Google Webmaster Tools

[ArthurKay]

Has anyone noticed that some of the Google tools contain invalid HTML code?

For example, if you use Webmaster Tools and opt to verify your site via a meta tag, your site will not pass the W3C validator.

Also, the Google AdSense for Search code is invalid...

I just think it's odd, and I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about it.

[imvain2]

Without seeing the exact error, I believe the verify meta tag error is simply due to the fact that it isn't a w3c known meta tag. Since it is a properitary google tag, which doesn't mean it will affect the way your website in accessed or viewed.

[wige]

I use the Google and Yahoo meta tags, and my sites all validate. What is the error message you get?

[bj]

You can tweak google adsense for search code and make it validate without harming the functionality.

For the record, I use the validator plugin for FireFox, which nicely distinguishes between the validation errors caused by the page author and those caused by Google.

And yes, since Google Webmaster Guidelines keep telling us to create "well formed code" I think it the height of lunacy that the code they give us all to use on our websites is such crap. With all the brainiacs working there one would think they could add a dropdown box asking your doctype and then generate the proper code . . .

[Dinghus]

Proper code from the "gurus"? Oh no. We must follow Microsoft's example and put out garbage code so that hackers/crackers can break in with no trouble at all. LOL

[wige]

Proper code just makes it easier to find the hacks and cracks.

[dann]

It depends on what your web pages claim to be coded as.
For instance valid XHTML needs every tag to be closed. EX: <tag /> Make Sense? It will not effect the display or goog, only validation. The way goog gives you the code the tags are not closed.
Also they do not specify java script language(at least they didn't used to when I put their crappola on my site.
EX: <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> NOT: <script type="text/javascript">
They should really get their crap together, they are the god of the internet!?
But really it does not mean a hill of beans unless you are just really picky(I AM).
Hope this helps, Dan
Hey! I just saw your site, I am a Sox fan tho. Can't shake that Southside upbringing. I'm gonna check out your forums now.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by ArthurKay

Has anyone noticed that some of the Google tools contain invalid HTML code?
I just think it's odd, and I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about it.

Don't you think you are doing something odd? I used the verification meta tad and it was validating. What are you editing? HTML or XHTML? What do you get for an error? Can you tell the URL?

[Clint1]

Originally Posted by ArthurKay

Has anyone noticed that some of the Google tools contain invalid HTML code?

For example, if you use Webmaster Tools and opt to verify your site via a meta tag, your site will not pass the W3C validator.

Also, the Google AdSense for Search code is invalid...

I just think it's odd, and I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about it.

Arthur, G's meta tag is invalid for HTML. Look at it and you'll see it's written in XHTML. So If your site is HTML you'll have to remove the space and slash at the end. For HTML it should end with => and not =/ >

It's important you fix this because this error can break the bots ability to spider anything after it.

[brandrocker]

Originally Posted by ArthurKay

Has anyone noticed that some of the Google tools contain invalid HTML code?

For example, if you use Webmaster Tools and opt to verify your site via a meta tag, your site will not pass the W3C validator.

Also, the Google AdSense for Search code is invalid...

I just think it's odd, and I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about it.

I had the same problem with G-search but so far as I know Google does not allow us to modify the generated code in any way. I think Google should allow webmasters to modify codes for the sake of validation.

[wige]

Originally Posted by dann

EX: <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> NOT: <script type="text/javascript">

Actually, <script type="text/javascript"> is the correct version if the page is XHTML. The language tag has been deprecated and is no longer supported, since it is redundant. The browser already knows that it is javascript since it is specified in the type tag.

[ArthurKay]

Ahh I never thought to look at it as XHTML... that's a good point. My site is coded for HTML validation.

[littlegiant]

Originally Posted by bj

You can tweak google adsense for search code and make it validate without harming the functionality...

You can? I thought it was strictly against the TOS to alter any Adsense code. I even emailed them about this issue with the Search Box code not validating and asked if I could make some minor changes to make it validate and they said NO. Mind you, that was over a year ago. Has something changed that I'm not aware of?