What is iFrame and how does it affect website optimization?

Content of the article

/01 What is the iFrame tag?
- What does an iFrame look like in web page code?
- Where are frames used? Examples of iFrames
/02 Does iFrame harm website SEO optimization?
/03 What problems can occur with the iFrame HTML tag?
- How Google handles iFrames
/04 How can iFrame be used to improve website SEO optimization?
/05 Conclusions

What is iFrame and how does it affect website optimization?

What is the most effective way to attract users to actively use your website? Make its content as interesting and useful as possible.

iFrame is an easy way to make your website or blog pages interactive. But is the iFrame tag safe for your website’s SEO? There are several ambiguous positions around this issue, which we will try to deal with in this article.

What is the iFrame tag?

The iFrame tag (or inline frame) is one of many HTML markup tags. It allows you to embed a piece of content into a web page. In simple terms, a frame is something like a picture-in-picture mode on YouTube.

The iFrame tag defines an area on the page that will contain content from another source. This HTML tag can be used to embed almost any type of document, video, text, link, social media post, etc. Frames are actively used to fill web pages not only to diversify content but also to improve SEO optimization. We will talk more about this in the following sections.

What does an iFrame look like in web page code?

The HTML tag is declared in the page code as follows:

<iframe>…</iframe

This structure is implemented in the main body of the page, i.e. in the main HTML tag <body>. Inside the structure, in the place of the ellipsis, the content of the future frame is indicated, i.e. its content.

The iframe HTML tag also has the following attributes:

width – sets the width of the tag area;
height – sets the height of the frame area;
src – used to specify the URL of the content that will be placed in the frame;
frameborder – sets the borders of the tag area;
allow – an additional set of attributes for advanced frame functions, such as allowing full-screen video display, opening access to the camera, microphone, or geolocation, allowing reading and writing to the clipboard, automatic media playback, and using payment APIs.

An example of the iFrame tag in the page code looks like this:

HTML-код фрейму | WEDEX

In the above snippet, the frame loads the content of the site specified in the src attribute and also allows the page being loaded to request access to the camera, microphone, and geolocation if the user agrees.

Where are frames used? Examples of iFrames

Frames have many practical applications. These options not only extend the standard functionality of the site, but also allow you to diversify the content. Here are some of the most popular examples of using the iFrame HTML tag:

Adding multimedia. The most common way to use a frame is to embed audio and video players on the page, usually from large services such as YouTube and Vimeo or streaming services such as Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music, etc. Such frames allow you to interact with additional content directly on the site and do not require additional link clicks. You can also create a PDF viewer in this way.
Use of third-party services. iFrames allow you to implement additional services on your web page. For example, using Google Maps to show business locations or delivery options, a window for quick transactions, or a weather forecast.
Advertising. A large number of website owners use the iFrame HTML tag as a container for advertisements on individual pages or on the entire website. This method of using frames allows you to separate advertising from the main content of a web page and independently track views or clicks on links. Often, frame banners are static and appear on the background of the page or on the sides.
Improving content. Web pages are often filled with content that looks different in different browsers. To unify the appearance of elements, programmers use frames. This approach allows you to fix the content until a permanent solution is found for the final version of the site.

Just like any other HTML tag, the way iFrames can be used is limited only by the programmer’s imagination. For example, frames can be customized with additional CSS styles.

Does iFrame harm website SEO optimization?

SEO optimization is influenced by many elements, including iFrames. However, this influence directly depends on the circumstances of using frames. Here are some key points:

iFrame can slow down the page loading speed. This is especially noticeable when the content of the frame is «heavy»: a link to an unoptimized site, a large document, etc. This happens because the server has to load not only the main page but also the content of the frames separately, i.e., it actually loads two sites at the same time.
iFrames can pose a security risk. Unfair use of frame content can potentially lead to a decrease in Google search engine rankings and deterioration of page rankings.

However, using iFrame correctly can be useful for SEO optimization. By using trusted and safe content, you can improve the user experience and interaction with Google crawlers. The main thing is that the content of the frames should match the content and theme of the page and the requirements of search engines.

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What problems can occur with the iFrame HTML tag?

In addition to SEO optimization issues, the iFrame tag can be a source of website security problems. These problems include:

Clickjacking or interception

A cybercriminal can embed your web page with an iframe, making it invisible or shifting other elements to hide the real content. As a result, the user may unknowingly enter a login and password, confirm a payment, or interact with the web interface in a way that benefits the attacker.

As a result, the user may accidentally share confidential information, make a purchase, etc. To avoid using your site in someone else’s frame, use the Content Security Policy (CSP) with the frame-ancestors directive ‘none’.

Leakage

If the site is loaded through an iframe, a third-party resource can access certain user data, for example, through interaction with the JavaScript API. If the site is not properly configured, the frame can transmit information through third-party cookies, JavaScript APIs, or incorrectly configured CORS requests.

To avoid data leakage, it is recommended to limit the use of iframes from unreliable sources and apply security policies (sandbox, CSP frame-ancestors, X-Frame-Options).

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM)

If iFrame loads HTTP resources on an HTTPS website, it can cause a threat known as a man-in-the-middle. The main problem is the interception of data between the user and the site, as well as the injection of malicious content during the frame load. Protection: avoid loading external frames without HTTPS and always use this protocol for your own frames.

Hidden

If the previous problems are more about cybersecurity, hidden content poses a threat to SEO optimization. Some pages use the HTML iframe tag to load «invisible content» that may not comply with the policies of Google and other search engines.

Search engines can actually ignore the content of an iframe, but if they detect manipulations, it can negatively affect the SEO of a website. The most common problems associated with frames include hidden advertising, manipulation of affiliate links, loading untrustworthy resources, and using frames to covertly redirect users.

Whenever possible, avoid using frames for key content. For important content, use another HTML <noscript> tag to help display the content if something happens to the main content of the tag.

How Google handles iFrames

There are several widespread myths about how search engines, namely Google, interact with the iframe tag. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Google does not crawl iFrame content: not true

Today, Google and other search engines are able to scan not only the frame itself but also its content. This means that the content of the iFrame has a direct impact on SEO and website indexing on the web. So if the content of the frame is identified as malicious, it will negatively affect the site. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose the content for the frame in accordance with the topic of the page.

Google considers the iFrame tag to be harmful: not true

Google doesn’t consider frames to be harmful. Can a frame be used by a criminal? Yes, we’ve covered this in detail in the previous sections. But there is more to this HTML tag than that. To avoid most problems with frames, use reliable and trusted sources of information for frames and use <noscript> in connection with CSP frame-ancestors.

Google favors iFrame over other content: not true

Another SEO myth that you may hear is that Google somehow prefers the content of the frame to the rest of the content on the site. This is nonsense, because search robots first crawl the main body of the page, finding out its topic and content, and only then analyze everything else.

Google recommends using iFrame sparingly: the truth

Google does not recommend duplicating content on your website and using iFrames «sparingly». Roughly speaking, do not overuse this HTML tag on your website pages. This is because many frames on one page can slow down its loading.

How can iFrame be used to improve website SEO optimization?

«Lazy» loading

iFrames increase the page load, so it’s a good idea to delay loading an element until you really need it. For example, let’s say you use a frame to showcase a video from your YouTube channel. With the loading argument, you can make the frame with the video load only when you scroll to it. Here’s an example:

<iframe src=”https://example.com” loading=”lazy”>…</frame

This will improve page loading speed.

Use of keys

If your frames are described in detail using keywords, it will increase the chances that search robots will better understand the content of both the page and the iFrame itself. The most obvious example is the use of Google Maps. In addition to the map itself, place your contact information under it, such as the name of your business, exact address, and phone numbers.

Customize iFrame attributes and descriptions

To help search engines better index the content of the frame, you can add title and desc tags to the iframe. It will look like this:

<iframe src=”https://www.example.com/content.html” title=”Example header” description=”Example description”></iframe

For additional security, you can use the <sandbox> HTML tag, which will prevent the frame from finding out information about the parent page.

Conclusions

The iFrame tag is a useful tool for diversifying content, which, if used correctly, can add bonuses to your SEO strategy. However, frames should be used carefully and based on the basic principles of online cybersecurity.