- Element Code: ON-011
- Issue: Meta description is injected by JavaScript, not in the raw HTML
- Impact: Non-rendering bots get no description; weaker snippets
- Fix: Output the meta description server-side
- Detection: View Source; curl as a bot
What this issue means
The meta description is present in the browser but was added by JavaScript. The raw HTML the server delivered — the version non-rendering crawlers read — has no description, or a placeholder.
Why it matters
Descriptions are not a ranking factor, but they shape your SERP snippet and give AI systems a clean summary to work with. If it only exists after JS runs, the crawlers that don't render JavaScript never see it. Same root cause as a JS-only title.
How to fix it
- Emit the meta description in the server response (SSR/SSG), not via client-side script.
- Keep it unique per page and within ~120–155 characters.
- Verify in View Source.
Related: Title Tags & Meta Descriptions FAQ · SSR vs CSR
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