Using External JavaScript Source Files by Sasch Mayer
By now most web designers and developers know that JavaScript causes a real
headache for search engine spiders.
There are however a number of scripts which, whilst not absolutely essential to
the functioning of a site, are nevertheless very handy.
So where do you draw the line between keeping your page as search engine friendly
as possible and including reams of JavaScript to achieve the desired effects?
You may be surprised to learn that there is an alternative which keeps search
engine spiders (reasonably) happy whilst drastically cutting down on the
necessary scripts within any given web page.
External JavaScript Source Files
Let's take the humble "Add Bookmark"
script as an example (please note that I have replaced the < > brackets
with [ ] brackets so as to be able to display the code properly within this
article).
[script Language="JavaScript1.2" type="text/javascript"]
var bookmarkurl = "http://www.doodademporium.com";
var bookmarktitle = "Purple Doodads for sale";
function addbookmark()
{
if (document.all)
window.external.AddFavorite(bookmarkurl, bookmarktitle);
}
[/script]
By placing the script's function into an external folder and file
(/java/bookmark.js for example) you will be able to streamline your code down
to the following:
[script Language="JavaScript1.2" src="java/bookmark.js"
type="text/javascript"][/script]
It's worth remembering that this is probably one of the simplest examples of
JavaScript out there and that the savings in terms of code are going to be
substantial with larger scripts.
This method is also worth its weight in gold, so to speak, if you are running a
number of scripts on the same page.
Just remember to create a different source file for each script, so as not to
confuse matters unnecessarily.
Through the use of external JavaScript files you not only save yourself having
to write (or even copy/paste) the same bulky scripts again and again, you are
also saving search engine spiders from becoming seriously disillusioned with
your web page and going elsewhere in search of easier prey.
Always remember that any web site should make a search engine's life as easy as
possible.
If you do use JavaScript in your pages, this approach will prevent unnecessary
complications when having your site indexed, whilst at the same time easing
your task of coding.
About the Author
An experienced copywriter with well over a decade of authoring experience, Sasch
Mayer currently lives in Larnaca, Cyprus where he writes under contract to
IceGiant Web Design Services.
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