Google Analytics bot reads JavaScript?

According to a quote in an article on the Googling Google blog "Google is saying here that their Google Bot does more than just follow links, they read javascript in order to determine more content to crawl."

I was just going to go looking for update son how the bots were making out with javascript. Thanks Rose.

Duane

Actually, from what I've heard they read JavaScript but they don't actually execute it. They read JavaScript to find more URLs to crawl. So, if they see a URL in a script they will follow it--but they certainly will not execute a script.

There's a big difference between following a URL in a script and actually executing the script. Browsers execute JavsScript scripts, bots do not. To allow a bot to execute a script would be very dangerous for them to do and it would be extremely difficult since it involves a lot more code required and too much "overhead" in the processing side of things.

Thanks for the explnation Bill. Makes sense.

Thanks Bill. I knew you'd give us the real scoop. If bots did execute scripts we'd have to really wonder about their potential effect on PPC costs.

Yes I agree. The bot does read scripts looking for other url's and thats all.
This is one reason it is best to place re-directs from tentacle pages in a simple java script. The engines do not read it as a re-direct, but they will follow the re-direct url and, thats good.
I have used this technique for several years in content pages we developed using the likes of Niche creator and WebCpg.
so dont worry about scripts