Can Javascript be SEO friendly?

[nicole.healthline]

Is some Javascript SEO friendly?

I know that Google Webmaster Guidelines states you should avoid the use of Javascript, (http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35769), but does any one know if Google can read some Javascript or generally not?

[RobertFisher]

That is correct.

[nicole.healthline]

Thank you. How would you best test if Google can read the copy included in a javascript file?

Would you just use a text browser as mentioned?

[mediabase]

Hi Michelleh,JavaScript is not SEO friendly. You can find this statement all over the web.

Now a days Google is much smarter at dealing with JavaScript. Google can execute some JavaScript, but not all. This effectively means that Google Spiders can read JavaScript and have become smarter at knowing which forms to execute and read, and which parts to leave alone. It seems certain that as long as websites continue to use JavaScript, Google will continue to refine its ability to read the language.

Google Spiders can read JavaScript -- but only to a limited extent. Nonetheless, Google Spiders may read and execute some of the JavaScript embedded in your XHTML or elsewhere on your site. As with most things related to how Google ranks websites and reads pages, the exact extent of how the Google Spiders crawl and use the data is unknown.

Google can now use JavaScript for indexing. For more information please refer to this link:

http://searchengineland.com/google-can-now-execute-ajax-javascript-for-indexing-99518

[RobertFisher]

Michelleh

First, I cannot find in the link provided by you where GWMT says "Avoid the use of Javascript."

And, I do not think that is really their position. (Given they have indexed it for some time now). Here is a great description by a level 10 on GWMT:

My own opinion of JS has always been ( because it can be disabled by a browser ) that you should use it to supplement user experience, and don't rely on it to render content that's important to be seen and used.

If someone has JS enabled - great - they benefit from the useability it provides, while if someone choose not have it enabled ( fear of viruses or malware ), they still receive the intended product/service delivered to them.

So, Is it SEO friendly per se?? Don't know that it is, but do not believe it hampers SEO. If user experience is improved it would be an SEO plus.

Hope it helps.