Can AI crawlers read my JavaScript site?

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Published 11 November 2026 · by TrueTest

If your site's text is put on the page by JavaScript after it loads (common with React, Vue and Angular apps and some site builders), a crawler that does not run JavaScript sees an almost empty page. Google renders JavaScript, but many AI crawlers fetch the raw HTML only. Our check counts the words a crawler sees without running scripts.

See what AI crawlers see See a full example first

Type your address into the box at the top of the WebAISEO page: the Readiness basics check reads one public page and its robots.txt, sitemap and llms.txt, takes a few seconds, needs no sign-up and is free. The paid audits are described on the WebAISEO page.

How does the check count readable text?

It takes the raw HTML, removes scripts, styles, svg and templates, and counts the words left:

Words in the raw HTML	Result
300 or more	pass (9 points)
80 to 299	warn (half)
under 80	fail

It is the biggest single check in the readable-content area.

How can I see what a crawler sees?

In your browser, open the page and choose "View page source" (not the inspector, which shows the page after scripts ran).
Search the source for a sentence from your main text. If it is not there, crawlers that skip JavaScript cannot read it.
Or switch JavaScript off in the browser settings and reload.

How do I fix a script-only page?

Server-side rendering or static generation (for example Next.js, Nuxt, Astro, or your framework's pre-render option): the HTML arrives with the text in it.
Pre-render the important pages: home, product or service pages, prices, FAQ, contact.
Put the title, meta description, canonical link and JSON-LD in the HTML itself, not added by a script.
Keep the menu links as real <a href> links so crawlers can follow them.

Does it matter for Google too?

Google can render JavaScript, but it renders later and not always fully. Pages with their text in the HTML are read sooner and more reliably by every engine.

More guides: llms.txt checker: does my site need one? · Schema and structured data for AI search · Do noindex or nosnippet block AI answers? · AI readiness check as an MCP tool · Headings that AI answers can lift · Author, dates and trust signals · Sitemaps, HTTPS and speed for AI crawlers · AI search optimisation vs classic SEO

Questions people ask

Does ChatGPT run JavaScript when it reads my page?

Do not count on it: write the page so the main text is in the HTML, and every engine can read it.

My site builder adds the text with scripts. What can I do?

Look for a static or server-rendered option in its settings, or move key pages to a builder that outputs HTML.

Does the check run JavaScript?

No, on purpose: it shows what a crawler that does not run scripts sees. Nothing on your page is executed.

Is 300 words a rule for ranking?

No. It is our threshold for a page with enough readable text to be quoted; quality matters more than length.