The meta fragment tag (`<meta name=”fragment” content=”!”>`) is a relic of a bygone era of the web. It was part of a deprecated AJAX crawling scheme that Google introduced in 2009 as a workaround to help search engines crawl and index content on AJAX-based websites. Today, it is a sign of an outdated and potentially problematic approach to JavaScript SEO. This guide will explain why this old scheme is bad for your SEO and how to fix it.

Think of the meta fragment tag as a rotary phone in a world of smartphones. It’s a technology that has been superseded by better, more efficient methods. For a broader look at modern JavaScript SEO, see our guide on the JavaScript SEO category.

An illustration of a dinosaur, symbolizing the deprecated status of old AJAX crawling scheme meta fragment tags.

Why the Old AJAX Crawling Scheme is a Problem

As explained in Google’s own guide to JavaScript SEO, modern search engines are much better at rendering and indexing JavaScript.

  • It’s Deprecated: Google officially deprecated the AJAX crawling scheme in 2015. While they still support it for a while, it’s a clear signal that your site is using an outdated technology.
  • It’s Inefficient: The old scheme required you to create HTML snapshots of your pages, which was a cumbersome and resource-intensive process.
  • It Can Cause Confusion: The old scheme can create confusion for search engines, which can lead to indexing issues.

A Step-by-Step Guide to a Modern Approach

The goal is to remove the old AJAX crawling scheme and to ensure that your site is using a modern approach to JavaScript SEO. For more on this, check out this guide to JavaScript SEO from Moz.

Code Example: The Fix

<!-- Before: The old meta fragment tag -->
<meta name="fragment" content="!">
<!-- After: The tag is removed -->
  1. Remove the Meta Fragment Tag: The first and most important step is to remove the meta fragment tag from your website.
  2. Implement a Modern JavaScript SEO Strategy: There are several modern approaches to JavaScript SEO, such as server-side rendering, dynamic rendering, and pre-rendering. Choose the approach that is right for your site.
  3. Use Clean, Crawlable URLs: Make sure that your internal links are using clean, crawlable URLs that do not contain the `_escaped_fragment_` parameter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meta fragment tag?

The meta fragment tag (`<meta name=’fragment’ content=’!’>`) was part of a deprecated AJAX crawling scheme that Google introduced in 2009. It was a workaround to help search engines crawl and index content on AJAX-based websites. It is no longer supported and should be removed.

Why is the meta fragment tag bad for SEO?

The meta fragment tag is bad for SEO because it is a deprecated technology that can cause confusion for search engines. Modern search engines are much better at rendering and indexing JavaScript, and the old AJAX crawling scheme is no longer necessary. It can also lead to a poor user experience, as it can cause pages to load slowly.

How do I fix the meta fragment tag issue?

The fix is to remove the meta fragment tag from your website and to ensure that your site is using a modern approach to JavaScript SEO, such as server-side rendering or dynamic rendering. You should also make sure that your internal links are using clean, crawlable URLs.

Ready to bring your website into the 21st century? Start your Creeper audit today and see how you can improve your website’s JavaScript SEO.