---
title: Why Use Valid HTML for Page Metadata?
description: "- Google relies on metadata inside the element to understand your page for Search. - If your HTML inside is invalid, Google may **ignore metadata that comes after** the first invalid element. - Google tries to handle some errors but…"
url: "https://fsidm.in/knowledge/seo/valid-html-for-page-metadata/"
updated: "2025-09-01"
category: SEO
---

# Why Use Valid HTML for Page Metadata?

- Google relies on metadata inside the <head> element to understand your page for Search.
- If your HTML inside <head> is invalid, Google may **ignore metadata that comes after** the first invalid element.
- Google tries to handle some errors but invalid markup can cause important metadata (like titles, descriptions, canonical links) to be missed or misused.

## **What Is Allowed Inside****<head>****?**

According to the HTML standard, **only these elements** are valid inside <head>:

- <title>
- <meta>
- <link>
- <script>
- <style>
- <base>
- <noscript>
- <template>

## **What to Avoid Inside****<head>**

- Do **not** place these elements inside because they are invalid there:

  - <iframe>
  - <img>
- If you absolutely must use them, place them **after** all the valid metadata elements you want Google to see.
- Once Google finds an invalid element in <head>, it assumes the end of <head> and ignores anything after that.

## **Quick Tips**

- Always validate your HTML to catch errors in <head>.
- Keep your metadata (title, meta tags, canonical, structured data script tags) at the top of <head>.
- Avoid placing images, iframes, or other invalid tags inside <head>—move them to <body> instead.

## **Summary**

| **Allowed in****<head>** | **Not allowed in****<head>** |
| --- | --- |
| title | iframe |
| meta | img |
| link | other invalid tags |
| script |  |
| style |  |
| base |  |
| noscript |  |
| template |  |