Can Google read Flash Files in Websites?

Flash for Websites

Q: Can Google index Flash files any better now than a year ago?
A: Google has improved their ability to see and index text content in SWF files, not just in Flash files. But the emphasis is on the word “better” it does not mean that Google or any other Search Engine has actually cracked the nut. Buttons made in Flash or menus can now be easier detected and read by Search Engines. It does not mean that it is now OK to go ahead and make websites with Flash and expect them to be as good as “normal” sites.

Q: What can Google better read from Flash files?
A: In principle Google can read the text users can see. If a flash file has any text embedded than that is what Google can see and is able to index. If a website contains Flash and if the text within the Flash file can be read by Search Engines, than that is what could in theory be used by Search Engines when they return so called “Snippets” from a website in the SERP’s. Search Engines may now also be able to use the text they can see in a Flash File and look for matches when a user searches with Keywords or Search Phrases which are a match to the text contained in Flash files.

Google can now detect URL’s written into Flash Files using the same method as when crawling and indexing URL’s found in ordinary websites. If Google can discover a URL within a website which is linked to another page of the website than this makes it a little easier for Google to find more pages and maybe index them.

Q: Can Google see Images?
A: The answer is a definite NO. Google was never able to read, images, and that has not changed. If you have a website which has more images than text (i.e Real Estate Websites) contact us, we may be able to help you.

Q: How does Google “see” the contents of Flash
A: This is what Google themselves had to say
We’ve developed an algorithm that explores Flash files in the same way that a person would, by clicking buttons, entering input, and so on. Our algorithm remembers all of the text that it encounters along the way, and that content is then available to be indexed. We can’t tell you all of the proprietary details, but we can tell you that the algorithm’s effectiveness was improved by utilizing Adobe’s new Searchable SWF library.

Q: What is it that Google can do or not do regarding the indexing of Flash Files?
A: Googlebot can’t deal with some forms of JavaScript. If you are trying to load a Flash File within your website using Java Script than this will not work because Google will not be aware of the flash file and it text content.
Should you use a Flash File to load another document type file, Google will not treat that file to be part of the content in your Flash file, but may index it anyway but not as a part of the flash file