Matthew Brown's Musings

Here is a geek question and a half from stackoverflow.com: “Do we still need backup code for people who have JavaScript disabled?” So let me answer it.

Yes.

Facebook breaks when JavaScript is disabled because it deliberately wants to. Mostly to keep Google and others out. Fortune 500 sites break without it because they are stupid.

Not only is it illegal for UK companies to not enable their sites for disabled users which 90% of the time (or more) will mean factor in that JavaScript might not work but you are missing out on a huge payday by not having a script free version of your site.

I’m talking about SEO.

If Google (which browsers JavaScript disabled by default) cannot read your site properly then you just missed out on a huge amount of potential traffic.

Web Developers: JavaScript should ALWAYS be an extra on top of HTML just like any add on media like Java, Flash and (gasp) Silverlight.

Say you otherwise?

My blog. Read it please. That is all.