How Google’s Latest JavaScript Update Impacts Your Website’s Search Results

Introduction

If you’re not already aware, Google updates its search algorithms thousands of times every year. While most of these changes are minor and go unnoticed, the bigger updates often come with names coined by the SEO community, like “Panda” or “Penguin.” These major updates usually create a buzz, but smaller updates—though less dramatic—can still carry significant implications.

One of these smaller yet noteworthy updates was announced on January 15th, focusing on the importance of JavaScript for delivering search results. Google’s goal? To enhance the user experience while safeguarding its services from bots and spam. A Google representative mentioned to TechCrunch that fewer than 0.1% of searches are performed by users who disable JavaScript in their browsers. But as TechCrunch pointed out, even a tiny percentage can still represent a large number of people.

So, what does this mean for you? If JavaScript is turned off in your browser, you might encounter a clunky, less-than-ideal experience online. And if your website’s JavaScript isn’t functioning properly or isn’t enabled, it could result in decreased visibility in search rankings and lower user engagement.

Let’s dive deeper and explore how this update impacts both searchers and website owners—and what you can do to stay ahead of the game.

For Searchers: JavaScript Needs to Be Enabled

This update ensures that Google can deliver richer, more interactive, and relevant search results to users. For example:

- When a searcher clicks on a link, they’ll land on a page that behaves and displays content as intended—thanks to JavaScript.

- Features like dynamic content, interactive tools, or real-time updates powered by JavaScript make the browsing experience smoother and more intuitive.

- These Javascript-enabled elements are present on most websites, including the WordPress websites we build here, regardless of the page builder or framework being used.

But here’s the catch: if JavaScript is disabled in a searcher’s browser, they might miss out on these enhanced experiences. So for searchers, this update indirectly encourages keeping JavaScript enabled to get the most out of their online experience. Here is how to make sure your browser has Javascript enabled:

1. Enable JavaScript in Popular Browsers

Ensuring JavaScript is enabled for users is essential. Here’s how to make sure Javascript is enabled in your browser:

Google Chrome
1. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings.
3. Under “Content,” click JavaScript and toggle it to Allowed.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the address bar.
2. Press Enter and accept the risk warning.
3. Search for javascript.enabled, double-click it, and set it to True.
Microsoft Edge
1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to Cookies and site permissions > JavaScript.
3. Ensure the toggle is set to Allowed.
Safari (Mac)
1. Open Safari and click Safari > Preferences in the menu bar.
2. Go to the Security tab and check Enable JavaScript.
Safari (iPhone/iPad)
1. Open the Settings app and scroll down to Safari.
2. Tap Advanced and toggle on JavaScript.

For Website Owners: JavaScript Needs to Run and Be Optimized

From a website owner’s perspective, this update is a reminder to:

- Ensure JavaScript is running smoothly. Google relies on JavaScript to understand and index modern websites. If your website uses JavaScript to load key information, it must execute correctly, or Google’s crawlers might miss it.

- Optimize JavaScript for performance. Slow or poorly executed JavaScript can hurt both SEO and user experience. Google factors things like load speed and interactivity into rankings, so any lag caused by unoptimized JavaScript could cost you visibility.

In short, websites must adapt to this update to stay competitive in search rankings.

How to Check if Your Website is JavaScript-Enabled:

1. Use Your Browser’s Developer Tools

Most modern browsers allow you to test JavaScript functionality directly. Here’s how you can do it:

- Google Chrome:
  1. 1. Open your website in Chrome.
    2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select Inspect to open the Developer Tools panel.
    3. Click on the Console tab.
    4. If JavaScript is enabled and functioning, you won’t see major errors like “Uncaught ReferenceError” or “JavaScript is not enabled.

- Mozilla Firefox:
  1. 1. Open your website in Firefox.
    2. Right-click on the page and select Inspect.
    3. Go to the Console tab.
    4. Look for any JavaScript-related errors; they’ll appear as red text if something isn’t working.

- Safari:
  1. 1. In Safari, enable the Developer menu by going to Safari > Preferences > Advanced and checking Show Develop menu in menu bar.
    2. Open your site, click Develop, and select Show JavaScript Console.
    3. Check for any errors that might indicate JavaScript is disabled.

2. Disable JavaScript Temporarily and Reload the Page

To see how your site performs without JavaScript, you can turn it off in your browser settings temporarily:

- In Chrome:
  1. 1. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings.
    2. Under “Content,” find JavaScript and toggle it off.
    3. Reload your website. If significant content disappears or functionality breaks, your site depends on JavaScript.

- In Firefox:
  1. 1. Type about:config in the address bar and hit Enter.
    2. Search for javascript.enabled.
    3. Double-click to toggle it off, then reload your site.

If your site appears incomplete or critical elements like buttons, menus, or forms stop working, it relies heavily on JavaScript.

3. Use Online Tools to Test JavaScript

Several free tools let you check if JavaScript is properly enabled and running on your site:

- Google Search Console:
  Test how Google renders your page by using the “URL Inspection” tool. It shows if JavaScript-rendered content is being indexed.

- Lighthouse:
  Run a performance and SEO audit using Lighthouse in Chrome’s Developer Tools. It highlights any issues with JavaScript.

- Third-Party Testing Sites:
  Sites like BrowserStack simulate how your site performs with and without JavaScript.

4. Ask Your Developer or Web Team

If you’re not comfortable testing JavaScript yourself, your web developer can help. They can check your site’s code, ensure JavaScript is enabled, and fix any issues if it isn’t working as intended.

Conclusion

It’s fair to say this update is primarily aimed at websites, making sure they’re delivering content in a way Google can understand and rank effectively. However, it also ensures that searchers benefit by accessing pages that work as expected, creating a win-win situation.

If you’re a website owner, focus on optimizing your JavaScript and ensuring it’s error-free. And if you’re a searcher, just make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser for the best browsing experience.

In the end, this update is part of Google’s broader mission: making the internet more functional, accessible, and helpful for everyone.

If you need help with your website please reach out to us by using our live chat function or booking a free consultation. 😊

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