Include Files

Do include files adversly affect SEO?

[domni]

I've heard differing opinions on this topic, and I seached the forum, but couldn't find an answer to my exact question. Does including files into my webpages using the PHP 'include' function adversly affect SEO? I'm going to be using mod_rewrite so that I won't have GET variables in the url.

[BarHopper]

No it doesnt affect SEO in anyway. Include files are essentially loaded before any code is loaded as well as the CSS (which doesnt matter in this case just thought id say it). Include files are just taking information from another file and placing it in the appropriate spot before the page loads. Variables and locations arent being cached, code within the include files could be cached if its proper HREF links or anything of that sort. You wont be penalized for using include files and its definatly a plus to use them for when your adding mass content to numbers of pages and needing to change a certain aspect of the site across all your files. In other words your safe.

-Bar

[tbear]

Just to reinforce what BarHopper said, the include files are added before the SEs see the page. So they don't know that they are included, per se. Thus no effect good or bad, for being included.

[domni]

Thanks, guys!