If I use a Jquery script to open and close a div with some graphics and text and the initial state is hidden, will search engines be able to index that content?
lucy24
1:37 am on Feb 19, 2012 (gmt 0)
Do you mean "hidden" as in "it's not there", or do you mean "hidden" as in "style = 'visibility: hidden'"?
I ask this because there's a second thing to worry about: search engines don't like it when the content they see is different from the content that humans see. So you have to make it clear to the search engine that you're not trying to fool anyone, it's just part of your visual design.
On the main question: The major search engines are getting good at reading javascript-- even when you don't want them to :( If something is present at all, they will probably find it.
sundaridevi
2:19 pm on Feb 19, 2012 (gmt 0)
I meant
style = 'visibility: hidden'
So then when the user clicks something it becomes visible
daveVk
12:03 am on Feb 20, 2012 (gmt 0)
Consider not having it hidden in html and hiding it on page load instead. Non javascript clients will see see it.
Search engine treatment of hidden is speculative. As it common practice for menus etc, modest use should be Ok, provided hidden stuff is not spam.
I assume all the content is in the initial page and not downloaded via ajax.
sundaridevi
4:51 pm on Feb 20, 2012 (gmt 0)
Yeah it's all in the HTML and is just like, open to see more info = text and photos
sundaridevi
7:32 pm on Feb 22, 2012 (gmt 0)
So nobody has tried this? It should be pretty easy to test...I guess I'll test it
