SEO Fundamentals Every Developer Should Know

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for any website's success. As a developer, understanding SEO fundamentals helps you build sites that perform well in search results. ## Technical SEO Foundation of good SEO starts with technical implementation: - **Proper HTML Structure**: Use semantic HTML5 elements - **Meta Tags**: Title, description, and Open Graph tags - **Sitemap**: XML sitemap for search engine crawlers - **Robots.txt**: Control crawler access ## Performance Optimization Speed is a ranking factor: - Optimize images and assets - Minimize JavaScript and CSS - Implement lazy loading - Use CDN for static assets - Enable compression ## Mobile-First Approach Mobile-friendliness is essential: - Responsive design - Touch-friendly interfaces - Fast mobile load times - No intrusive interstitials ## Content Structure Organize content for both users and search engines: - Clear heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) - Descriptive URLs - Internal linking - Schema markup for rich snippets ## Core Web Vitals Focus on user experience metrics: - Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) - First Input Delay (FID) - Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) ## Conclusion SEO isn't just about keywords—it's about creating fast, accessible, well-structured websites that provide value to users. By implementing these fundamentals, you'll build sites that both users and search engines love.