Remove unused JavaScript

Loading a Web site is fast, but even faster loading times are probably possible. Remove unused JavaScript is one piece of advice in this case. What is Remove unused JavaScript and how do you find out about this problem? We explain it to you here!

What is Remove unused JavaScript?

Remove unused JavaScript is a recommendation that a program like Google PageSpeed Insights may give when you have your Web site’s content analyzed. Removing unused JavaScript may be a way to improve a website and make it faster.(1)

The disadvantage of redundant JavaScript on the website

When you open a Web site, as a user you don’t see what is going on at the “back end” of the Web site. This is where the loading of the complete website takes place. This goes fairly quickly, but it also happens that it takes a little longer. This is annoying to the user of a website, and chances are that the user will leave the web page for another website.

Redundant JavaScript is among the possible causes. This is a programming language that makes the Web page interactive through code. The browser checks all code on the site; including code that is not in use. This takes extra time and may cause longer loading times.

The impact of Remove unused JavaScript on SEO

Remove unused JavaScript has in possible impact on the SEO of a Web site or page. It causes the browser to check a website faster, which also makes it load faster. However, removing unused JavaScript does not guarantee a fast website: loading speed depends on many more things. (2)

My advice

Removing unused JavaScript is one of the ways you may make your Web site faster for both users and the search engine. We recommend using Google PageSpeed Insights. This program analyzes the content of your website and gives the message “Remove unused JavaScript”: based on this, you will get the necessary advice on how to handle it. Can’t figure it out? Then it’s always possible to bring in a developer or programmer to pick this up for you.

The most complete book on website speed

I’ve written so much about speeding up websites and everything involved that I like to divide it into different sections; general, tools, speed improvement points and tips. Feel free to see and consult all the links below to learn more about tools and tips for speeding up your website.

General

Tools

Verbter points for speed

General tips

Resources

  1. Remove Render-Blocking JavaScript. (s.d.). Google For Developers. https://developers.google.com/speed/docs/insights/BlockingJS
  2. Remove unused JavaScript. (2020, July 7). Chrome For Developers. https://web.dev/unused-javascript/
Senior SEO-specialist

Ralf van Veen

Senior SEO-specialist
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I have been working for 10 years as an independent SEO specialist for companies (in the Netherlands and abroad) that want to rank higher in Google in a sustainable manner. During this period I have consulted A-brands, set up large-scale international SEO campaigns and coached global development teams in the field of search engine optimization.

With this broad experience within SEO, I have developed the SEO course and helped hundreds of companies with improved findability in Google in a sustainable and transparent way. For this you can consult my portfolio, references and collaborations.

This article was originally published on 3 April 2024. The last update of this article was on 3 April 2024. The content of this page was written and approved by Ralf van Veen. Learn more about the creation of my articles in my editorial guidelines.