hreflang is an HTML attribute used to specify language and regional versions of a webpage. It ensures that users see content in their preferred language or country, improving user experience and rankings in different regions.

For example, an Essex-based business targeting UK and Spanish markets would use:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-GB" href="https://example.com/uk/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://example.com/es/" />

Using hreflang correctly avoids duplicate content penalties and improves international rankings, making it crucial for businesses targeting multiple regions.