Google Cache is an archive of billions of web pages that were viewed when indexed. Google uses these pages as a backup if the current live version is down.
There are some stubborn myths surrounding Google cache.
- Misconception 1: If a page isn’t cached, it isn’t indexed.
- Myth 2: Sites that block caching may be penalized by Google.
In fact, Google cache is a useful tool for optimizing your organic rankings. We check it in almost every page audit.
Access to Google cache
Access the Google cache in two ways:
- type Cache: full page URL In Google’s search box – example: Cache: https://www.practicalecommerce.com.
- Click the three vertical dots next to the search snippet and click[その他のオプション]is under[キャッシュ]Click.
One way to access the Google cache is by clicking the three vertical dots next to the search snippet and clicking[その他のオプション]is under[キャッシュ済み]is to click
Non-cached pages will not appear in either option. Uncached pages do not indicate ranking or indexing problems. To verify, check the status of your page with the URL Inspection tool in Search Console.
Google cache contains the date the page was last saved. This is also the date of the last crawl according to Google.
Google usually caches mobile pages in consideration of mobile-first indexing. So by checking Google cache, you can know if your mobile site is optimized for key factors. This review is very important in my experience. This is because the mobile version is often a streamlined desktop page that lacks an essential ranking component.
Checking the “text-only version” of the cache shows the page without any CSS or JavaScript. This is the version we check when analyzing the page.
Google cache and SEO
Traditionally, search optimizers have relied on text-only caches to check for important elements.
- the main navigation links (especially the ones behind the dropdowns),
- subheadings (including those hidden behind tabs),
- All text content.
But Googlebot is now much more advanced. For example, JavaScript can be crawled and rendered. Understand images and use video transcripts as additional content. Therefore, Google can index the element even if the text version of the cache does not show the element.
Still, make sure the important search optimization components of your page appear in the text-only version. This is the only reliable way to make sure Google can access them.
The text-only version is also useful for auditing alt text in images. If there is no alt text, Google will use the image filename.
blocking cache
I don’t think there is a valid reason to block Google from caching your page, except behind a paywall. Paywalls may be bypassed by reading a cached version.
Nevertheless, no archive Page meta tags are an easy way to prevent Google from caching your page.I have No negative impact on SEO with that tag. But once in place, there is no way to see the important ranking factors since there is no text-only cached version.
