Why Clean and Valid HTML Code is Important for SEO

One important factor that can affect your website's search engine performance is the quality of your HTML code. This is why it's one of the important focus areas when doing technical SEO.

What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a coding language used to create and structure content on the web. It provides a framework for organizing and formatting text, images, and other media.

Here is a simple example of HTML code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My Website</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
    <p>This is my personal website, where I share my thoughts and ideas.</p>
    <img src="https://www.example.com/my-image.jpg" alt="A picture of me">
  </body>
</html>

In this example, the declaration indicates that the document is an HTML5 document. The element represents the root of an HTML document and contains all other HTML elements.

The element contains information about the document, such as the title and any linked resources (such as stylesheets). The element specifies the title of the document, which is displayed in the browser's title bar or tab.

The element contains the main content of the document, which is displayed in the browser window. The

element represents a heading, and the

element represents a paragraph. The element is used to embed an image in the document.

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Why is clean and valid HTML code important for SEO?

1. Improved search engine crawlability

Search engines use bots, also known as "crawlers," to scan and index websites. If your HTML code is messy and contains errors, it can be more difficult for these bots to understand and index your content. On the other hand, clean and valid HTML code makes it easier for search engines to understand and index your content, which can improve your search engine ranking.

2. Better user experience

In addition to improving search engine crawlability, clean and valid HTML code can also enhance the user experience. When your code is clean and free of errors, it can help your website load faster and more smoothly, leading to a better overall experience for your visitors.

3. Enhanced accessibility

Accessibility is important for ensuring that your website is accessible to users with disabilities. Clean and valid HTML code can help improve the accessibility of your website by making it easier for assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to interpret and navigate your content.

How to check for clean and valid HTML code

There are several tools you can use to check the quality of your HTML code, including:

The W3C Markup Validation Service: This tool allows you to enter the URL of your website and check for any HTML coding errors.
The Chrome DevTools: If you use the Chrome web browser, you can use the DevTools feature to check for HTML errors on specific pages of your website.
SEO crawlers: There are also several SEO crawlers, such as Screaming Frog and DeepCrawl, that can help you identify and fix HTML errors on your website.

In conclusion, having clean and valid HTML code is important for SEO and can also improve the user experience and accessibility of your website. Make sure to regularly check and fix any coding errors to ensure that your website is optimized for search engines and provides a great experience for your visitors.