Official statement
Other statements from this video 6 ▾
- 15:00 Pourquoi la structure de données événement ne garantit-elle pas les rich results?
- 17:37 Pourquoi l'ordre des balises dans un sitemap XML est-il sans importance pour Google?
- 18:08 Pourquoi garder les anciennes URLs dans le sitemap après une redirection 301 ?
- 18:08 Pourquoi retirer les URLs obsolètes de vos sitemaps pourrait booster votre SEO ?
- 19:46 Pourquoi simplifier l'implémentation des codes hreflang pour le SEO international ?
- 20:46 Faut-il vraiment aligner hreflang et lang HTML ?
JSON files loaded via JavaScript can remain in 404. There's no need to make them directly accessible if Google can read them properly via JavaScript.
What you need to understand
Why is this statement important for SEO?<\/h3>
Google claims that JSON files, often used for APIs or dynamic configurations, do not need to be directly accessible as long as they are utilized by JavaScript that Google can read. This means greater flexibility in site development.<\/p>
- This simplifies the management of JSON resources.<\/li>
- Reduces the need for server configurations for these files.<\/li>
- Focuses on execution rather than direct accessibility.<\/li><\/ul>
What is the impact on crawling and indexing?<\/h3>
Regarding crawling, if JSON files are loaded via JavaScript, it should not affect their interpretation by Googlebot. Developers must ensure that the JavaScript is written in a way that is readable by search engines. Indexing is thus optimized without additional resources.<\/p>
- Ensure that your JavaScript is interpretable by Googlebot.<\/li>
- Avoid unnecessary complexities in rendering JSON files.<\/li><\/ul>
SEO Expert opinion
What is the scope of this statement?<\/h3>
This statement appears consistent with Google's ongoing improvements in understanding JavaScript. However, it introduces a nuance where each JSON file does not need direct access via URL, as long as JavaScript correctly manages the API calls.<\/p>
Should we be cautious with this approach?<\/h3>
One aspect to watch is performance. If your JavaScript execution slows down, it could indirectly affect crawling. And this is where it gets tricky: poorly optimized sites may not benefit from best practices without a thorough audit. [To be verified]<\/strong><\/p> If the JavaScript is not compatible with Google's rendering engine, or if a site uses obscure frameworks, this approach will be ineffective. Make sure your site adheres to current standards for JavaScript rendering.<\/p>In what cases would this not work?<\/h3>
Practical impact and recommendations
What should you keep an eye on?<\/h3>
Ensure that your JavaScript is well-written, and that your JSON files contain no errors that would make the data unreadable for Googlebot. Optimize the asynchronous loading of your scripts to ensure smooth execution.<\/p>
How can you optimize this approach?<\/h3>
Adopt a tested strategy, monitoring the impact of these files on load time and indexability. Sometimes, a simple solution like caching can provide effective and immediate answers.<\/p>
- Check the compatibility of your JavaScript with Googlebot.<\/li>
- Regularly test your site's speed.<\/li>
- Use JavaScript rendering testing tools.<\/li><\/ul>Ultimately, even if these optimizations seem minor, their implementation requires fine expertise to avoid unexpected pitfalls. Consider reaching out to an SEO agency for tailored support.<\/div>
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Les fichiers JSON doivent-ils être référencés en noindex ?
Peut-on laisser des JSON en 404 sans problème ?
Le crawl est-il affecté par les JSON inaccessibles ?
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