criticalRendering

Content must render without JavaScript

The page must expose meaningful text even when scripts do not run or hydration is slow.

Score weight−18

Capability checkRead content without JavaScript

Agents parse the rendered DOM, and the snapshot is often taken before (or without) JavaScript. If the body is a lone <div id="app">, the agent reads a blank page and the audit fails “Read content without JavaScript” with “page is empty when scripts are disabled.”

Why it matters

A blank shell means the agent cannot identify the topic, find the primary action, or extract any content. Every downstream capability check fails too, dragging the score to near zero.

How to fix it

1Server-render the meaningful shell (real h1, links, primary form) in the initial HTML.
2Or pre-render marketing-critical pages at build time.
3At minimum, add a <noscript> block with the essential content and links.

A fallback that passes the check

<noscript>
  <main>
    <h1>Northstar</h1>
    <p>Agent-first analytics. <a href="/signup">Start free</a>.</p>
  </main>
</noscript>

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