How Much Code Should SEO Pros Know? Google Weighs In

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, one question continues to resurface among marketers and web professionals alike: Do SEO professionals need to code? The answer, according to Google experts Martin Splitt and Gary Illyes, is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

In a recent Search Off the Record podcast, the two Googlers dove into the topic of technical SEO literacy, addressing long-standing concerns around SEO vs developer roles and offering insights into the kind of knowledge that truly benefits modern SEO professionals. Spoiler: you don’t have to be a coder, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

The Developer-SEO Divide

The digital world often sees two camps—developers and SEO specialists—trying to achieve the same goal from different angles. But despite the overlap, tensions sometimes emerge. Splitt admits that even when he presents SEO topics at developer conferences, the reception is not always warm.

“There’s a kind of skepticism in the air,” he noted, acknowledging that the SEO vs developer roles debate continues to stir friction. Developers sometimes see SEO as interference, while SEOs feel overlooked in technical discussions. This communication gap can lead to unintended consequences.

One such example was shared by Gary Illyes, who spoke about a large agency implementing a calendar plugin across multiple websites. The result? Over 100 million URLs were generated unintentionally, causing a massive crawl budget issue with Google’s indexing systems. It was a classic case where lack of developer collaboration in SEO created far-reaching technical complications.

What SEO Pros Need To Know

So, do SEO professionals need to code to avoid such issues? Not necessarily. What’s more important, according to Splitt, is understanding the foundational aspects of how the web works.

“You don’t have to write code in JavaScript or Python,” Splitt explained. “But you should understand how web systems function.” In other words, it’s not about full-stack development, but rather about technical SEO skills that allow for meaningful conversations with developers and better strategic decisions.

Here’s what should be on your technical radar:

• Know what HTTP headers are and how they affect crawling and indexing.
• Be aware of the differences between protocols like HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2.
• Understand the role of SSL certificates and how HTTPS impacts security and trust.

Get a grip on understanding JavaScript for SEO, especially how client-side rendering might delay or block content visibility to search engines.

While coding may not be mandatory, these components fall under essential SEO technical knowledge requirements for anyone handling site structure, indexing, or performance optimization.

Context Matters: Not All SEOs Need The Same Skills

One of the biggest takeaways from the discussion was that SEO is not a monolith. The skills needed for one SEO role might be completely irrelevant in another. For example, an SEO strategist focused on content internationalization may not spend their days thinking about crawl budget or schema markup. However, even they could encounter technical hurdles related to hreflang implementation or localization tags.

So, how much coding for SEO is really needed? It depends.

If you’re primarily involved in content creation or brand marketing, your need to code might be minimal. But if your role leans into audits, migrations, or performance optimization, technical SEO skills become far more critical. Whether it’s improving Core Web Vitals or resolving structured data issues, knowing how to diagnose problems—or even just how to talk about them with developers—is invaluable.

What This Means

Let’s distill this discussion into actionable takeaways for today’s SEO professionals.

1. Coding Isn’t Mandatory—But Literacy Is Beneficial

While Splitt and Illyes made it clear that coding ability isn’t a requirement, having a working understanding of core web technologies is vital. This includes understanding JavaScript for SEO, knowing how server responses work, and grasping the basics of HTML and CSS.

2. Your Role Determines Your Technical Needs

Not every SEO will need to edit code directly. However, most roles will benefit from a strong technical foundation. If your work involves collaborating with developers or managing large websites, your understanding of SEO technical knowledge requirements must go beyond the surface.

3. Communication is Critical

One of the most important themes discussed was developer collaboration in SEO. Poor communication between teams can result in massive issues, many of which could be prevented with better planning and shared knowledge. Speaking the same “language” as developers—even conceptually—can make all the difference.

4. Apply Context to Advice

Not all SEO tips apply equally to every website or situation. Whether you’re reading advice from a blog, a tweet, or a Google podcast, consider how it fits into your specific scenario. Rigidly following general tips without understanding the “why” can lead to missteps.

Looking Ahead

As websites become more dynamic and client-side technologies like React, Angular, and Vue continue to rise, SEO professionals who ignore technical elements do so at their own risk. While you may not need to write JavaScript code, understanding JavaScript for SEO will help you ensure that search engines see your most important content.

Ultimately, the takeaway isn’t that all SEOs should become developers. Rather, the message is one of balance. A well-rounded SEO should be able to communicate effectively with developers, understand the architecture of the web, and apply that knowledge contextually.

So, do SEO professionals need to code? Not really. But should they invest time in learning how much coding for SEO is needed for their particular role? Absolutely. The more you understand about the systems you’re optimizing, the more successful your strategies—and collaborations—will be.