SEO and php inlcude files

[seotra]

Hi
I was wondering if anyone could post some details on how search engines deal with php include files. I have heard quite a few conflicting opinions on this. I know that php code is server side so it wont be seen, and I assume that there is no need to use the robot.txt file.

Many thanks

Rifki

[openmind]

PHP includes simply pull the content of the include into the calling file. The resulting HTML is then what is read by the search engines.

As this all happens server side, there is nothing to worry about in terms of SEO as it makes no impact using includes, just the content that is within them.

I generally use includes for common elements of a site such as the header/footer etc...

[Paul Norman]

As per above. The use of include files helps in many circumstances to create more efficient code, and is good practise. We do not code in php, using asp and .net, but still make extensive use of includes.

The stories of their impact on SEO are mostly urban myth.

[seotra]

As I thought, thanks guys

Rifki

[xela1966]

I agree with all posts here but If you use several php files on a include link is better to use the robots file to tell seach engines to don't follow all the php files. If you don't do that the search engines will index all the php files as a page and they will present them on the seaarch.

[openmind]

No they won't as the include is processed server side. A robot will only follow a link if it's physical not embedded into the code.

[xela1966]

I'm talking about what I notice about my site.
If we don't use the robots file to protect the php files they will be indexed as any othe file extention as eg. file.txt or pdf, it can take long for that happen but they will be indexed. Google doesn't follow only links.
This is what I been notice.

[RedEvo]

I'm talking about what I notice about my site.
If we don't use the robots file to protect the php files they will be indexed as any othe file extention as eg. file.txt or pdf, it can take long for that happen but they will be indexed. Google doesn't follow only links.
This is what I been notice.

But how does Google index these files? Does it 'guess' the file names and strike lucky?

d

[corporatefin]

I have never had any problems with php include. As stated above, it is the HTML that counts. Good luck!