Google recently updated its JavaScript SEO documentation to clarify how it handles pages with non-200 HTTP status codes, such as 404 or other error pages. This is an important consideration for website owners and developers who rely on JavaScript to render page content.
According to Google, all pages with a 200 HTTP status code are sent to the rendering queue, regardless of whether JavaScript is used. However, for pages with a non-200 status code, rendering might be skipped, meaning the content on those pages may not be fully processed by Googlebot.
This clarification is crucial because if a page isn’t rendered properly, it could negatively impact its ranking in Google Search. Ensuring that important pages return a 200 status code can help prevent Google from skipping rendering.
Other recent updates to Google’s JavaScript SEO guidelines include:
- Clarifying canonicalization when using JavaScript
- Advising against generating noindex tags via JavaScript in the original page code
Why it matters: Website owners should regularly audit their pages to ensure that critical content isn’t accidentally blocked by non-200 HTTP responses. Proper status codes combined with correctly executed JavaScript help maintain optimal SEO performance.
To enhance your website’s visibility and performance in search engines, technical SEO services in New York are essential. At SEO Guru NYC, we specialize in comprehensive SEO strategies that address site speed, mobile optimization, URL structures, and more. Our team ensures that your website is not only user-friendly but also search engine-friendly, helping you achieve better rankings and organic traffic. Whether you need to optimize your site’s core web vitals or resolve crawling issues, our SEO experts have the skills and tools to help you succeed.
