Playbook: Confirm Google can actually index your JavaScript content

Playbook: Confirm Google can actually index your JavaScript content
Client-side React/Vue can leave Google indexing an empty shell. Here's the verification flow.

Setup:
— GSC Inspect URL > Test Live URL > View Tested Page > HTML tab
— This is the RENDERED DOM Google sees Ctrl+F for your main body text and key links
— If your content/links are missing, Google can't index them
— Cross-check with the Screenshot and More info > JavaScript console messages tabs for render errors
— Fix path: SSR, prerendering, or dynamic rendering for bots

What it does well: shows the EXACT rendered HTML Googlebot produced, including failed JS the single best JS-indexing check, free.

Where it falls short: rendering is deferred (a 'second wave' that can lag days), so a passing live test doesn't guarantee timely indexing.

Pros:
— Real rendered DOM
— Console error log
Cons:
— Render lag not shown
— One URL at a time

Best for: SPAs and JS-heavy sites. NOT for server-rendered HTML sites where this rarely matters.