Does Googlebot Index .PHP Files?

[XenithMLS]

Sorry if this sounds like a newbie question, but I just recently started creating websites, and have a fairly good site running. However, the site has basically nil ranking in any of our keywords.
Most of the website is made of .PHP files, so I am curious, is the GoogleBot not reading them? I don't see php listed as one of the file formats that it reads, but I'd still like confirmation if this is true or not..

[Nick_W]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

Yes, google does index .php files. With no problem whatsoever. Including dynamic URL's

Have you checked your server logs?

Nick

[stuntdubl]

Welcome to Webmaster World Xenith. From the discussions that I've read google DOES index dynamically created content, although it doesn't specifically list .PHP. I will save one of the moderator's the time of asking you to use the search function before asking questions, even though it is very tempting to just ask sometimes (I have done it plenty of times myself), but usually there is a good answer somewhere in the archives. I have found that to restrict searches to this forum try using /forum3/ before your search string (thanks brett for that tip!). Hope this helps, and good luck!

[jatar_k]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld XenithMLS,

As a test case try looking at the results from php.net. They have around 3000 pages indexed and they use .php extensions and dynamic urls.

Absolutely no problem.

[andreasfriedrich]

Why are you sorry if this sounds like a newbie question if it is one? Donīt be, but invest just a tiny little bit more effort in your own research next time.

Or do your own research first and then post what you have come up with and verify your own conclusions by asking questions. That way you improve your research skills and spare yourself and everybody else valuable time.

[XenithMLS]

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys!

I don't understand half the stuff you're are talking about, since I'm teaching myself all of this information on my own, but I hope that this forum can be a good resource for me. I'm still very much learning the ropes of webdesign and SE placement.

Stuntdubl:
Thanks for the tip for searching the archives first..I'll do that in the future for my newbie questions..

[weisinator]

Yes, google does index .php files. With no problem whatsoever. Including dynamic URL's

Does dynamic URL mean Google can read the Querystring?

[Nick_W]

Sure does.

I beleive INK and FAST also do (though I'm not certain on FAST)

Nick

[Torben Lundsgaard]

Google will try to read any dynamic URL's and does in most cases. However, there seems to be a problem with passing PR from one dynamic URL to another, which means that you should rewrite urls with mod_rewrite or an ISAPI filter.

[EliteWeb]

Never had issues with Google and the PHP which all my sites are based around. Many have static pages others are dynamic. And as said google really doesnt have a problem with dynamic linkage if its done right. I can tell you my message board which is based on phpBB is very well indexed and the ranking isn't high for the dynamic pages but the main url and a subdirectory have higher ranks.

[jatar_k]

Good point Torben_Lundsgaard,

and try to rewrite them as short as possible as well. It seems to do interesting things when you rewrite a string into something that makes your top level pages look like they are 4 or 5 levels down.

[Torben Lundsgaard]

One of my clients had a site which Google had problems with. I rewrote the URL's with an ISAPI filter (IIS). Boom, all main category pages jumped right into PR7 because of internal linkpopularity.

All search engines are experimenting with dynamic URL's but I'm convinced that you get significantly better results with static URL's.