How to fix: Pages without doctype declared

pages without doctype Semrush site audit tips

Issue: Without a <!Doctype> declaration, browsers don’t know which version of HTML your page uses. This can cause layout issues, slow load times, and a poor user experience.

Fix: Add a <!Doctype> declaration at the very top of each page’s source code, just before the <html> tag.

How to Fix for Beginners

  1. Use the Correct Doctype for Modern Pages: For most websites, use the HTML5 doctype:
    • Example: <!Doctype html> goes at the very top of the page source.
  2. Check Your Pages: Open your HTML files or inspect your site’s source code in a browser to ensure the doctype is present and correct.
  3. Fix Missing Doctypes: If there’s no <!Doctype> declaration, add it manually or update your content management system (CMS) to include it automatically.
  4. Validate Your HTML: Use an HTML validator tool to ensure your page structure follows the standard for your declared doctype.

Tip: Declaring a doctype ensures browsers render your page correctly, improving layout and speed.

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