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AJAX

AJAX: Definition

AJAX, an acronym for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, is a set of web development techniques used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications. In simple words, AJAX allows web pages to update and fetch data from the server without requiring to reload the page. This leads to faster and more interactive web applications.

AJAX Relevance For SEO

From an SEO perspective, AJAX presents a challenge as well as an opportunity. While AJAX-driven sites provide a fast and fluid user experience, they can be problematic for search engines. This is because AJAX content is loaded dynamically and search engines typically crawl the static content of the page. Thus, important content that’s loaded using AJAX might not be crawled or indexed.

However, this doesn’t mean AJAX and SEO can’t work together. With advancements in web crawling algorithms, search engines like Google have started interpreting web pages like modern web browsers, which means they can crawl and index AJAX content. Therefore, if handled properly, AJAX can enhance the SEO value of your site by improving the user experience.

AJAX Best Practices for SEO

Here are some best practices when using AJAX for SEO:

  • Progressive Enhancement: Build your site with solid HTML before adding AJAX. This approach, also known as Progressive Enhancement, ensures that your content is accessible to all users and search engines, regardless of whether JavaScript is enabled or not in their browsers.
  • Use HTML5 PushState: HTML5 introduced the PushState method which lets you change the URL of the page without reloading. This way, you can use AJAX while also maintaining unique URLs for each state of your application.
  • Follow Google’s AJAX Crawling Scheme: Google recommends a method called “escaped fragments” for making AJAX content crawlable. By using a special syntax in your URLs, you can give search engines a static snapshot of your AJAX content.
  • Test & Validate: Use a tool like Google’s Fetch and Render in Search Console to see your site as Google sees it. This can help you spot any content that’s not being crawled or indexed.