Quick answer
A document normally needs one authoritative <title> element. NOTABIS reports multiple-title-tags when the measured HTML contains more than one, because browsers and search systems may have to choose between conflicting values. Remove accidental duplicates and keep the remaining title specific to the page.
What the issue means
The title element belongs in the document head and describes the page in browser tabs, bookmarks, and search interfaces. A duplicated template can produce this:
<title>Example Store</title>
<title>Red trail shoes</title>
The issue is different from duplicate title text across separate URLs. That cross-page situation is covered by duplicate title tags. Multiple elements on one response are a document markup problem.
Why it matters for SEO
Search engines can use the title and other prominent text to form a title link, and they may rewrite it when the source is unclear or repetitive. Multiple elements do not create a special ranking penalty, but conflicting titles make it harder to communicate the page’s subject and can confuse users in browser tabs and assistive tools.
How NOTABIS detects it
The multiple-title-tags rule counts every <title> element in the measured HTML and records a page-level issue when the count is greater than one. It does not compare the text, decide which title is visually intended, or inspect titles inserted after the initial response. A page can therefore have one title and still need a quality review.
How to check it yourself
Inspect the final document head in View Source and developer tools. Search shared layouts, CMS plugins, server-side templates, and client-side route components for title output. Check responsive and authenticated states as well as the initial page load.
How to fix it
Choose one title owner in the application and remove duplicate output from nested layouts or SEO plugins. Keep the title concise and page-specific, then align it with the visible H1 without copying a site-wide slogan onto every URL.
<title>Red Trail Running Shoes | Example Store</title>
Verify the final HTML after deployment and review the rendered search result when it becomes available. Search systems can still rewrite a single title based on the query and page content.
When this is intentional or does not need fixing
A transient client-side route may briefly leave an old title in the DOM during navigation, although the settled document should still expose one clear title. Non-HTML responses do not use title elements. Do not keep multiple tags as a fallback strategy; fix the template or rendering order instead.
Related issues
Compare title tags present, missing title tags, duplicate title text across URLs, and title length review. Google’s guidance on title links explains how other page text can be used when the title is unclear.
Run a NOTABIS audit
NOTABIS counts title elements in each measured response and lists pages where a template emits more than one.