How to check Open Graph tags
- Enter the complete public webpage URL.
- Retrieve the page metadata.
- Review the extracted Open Graph fields.
- Check image availability and preview layout when supported.
- Compare social metadata with the page’s visible title, description and content.
What is Open Graph metadata?
Open Graph metadata describes how a webpage may be represented when shared on supported platforms. Common fields identify a title, description, URL, content type and image.
The tags are placed in the webpage’s HTML. Platforms may cache them, apply their own layout rules or use fallback information when a field is missing.
Use View Source when you need to inspect the exact tags present in the returned HTML.
Common Open Graph fields
A checker may extract fields such as:
og:titleog:descriptionog:urlog:typeog:image- Image width, height or alternative text when provided
- Site name
- Locale
- Supported platform-specific card fields
The public page should list only the metadata types the tool actually reads.
What should a social preview help you review?
Title
Does it identify the content clearly without misleading users?
Description
Does it summarize the page accurately and complement the title?
Image
Is the image accessible, relevant and suitable for cropping? A successful fetch does not guarantee identical rendering across platforms.
Canonical URL
Does the shared URL represent the intended destination?
Consistency
Do the social card, visible page and standard metadata describe the same content?
Why can a live social card differ from the preview?
Differences can result from:
- Platform-specific layout rules
- Cached metadata
- Image cropping
- Unsupported image formats or sizes
- Redirects
- Blocked crawler access
- Missing fields and fallback selection
- Different platform card systems
A preview should not claim pixel-perfect reproduction.
Open Graph vs meta description
Open Graph descriptions and standard meta descriptions serve different contexts. They can use similar wording, but neither automatically controls the other.
Use the Meta Description Checker to inspect the standard page description.
Social preview vs search snippet
A social-card preview is different from a search-result snippet. Open Graph metadata does not directly define how a search engine must display the page.
Use the SERP Snippet Preview to test title and description combinations for an approximate search layout.
Common Open Graph issues
- Missing title, description, URL or image
- Relative or inaccessible image URLs
- Metadata that does not match the visible page
- Duplicate or conflicting tags
- Image dimensions unsuitable for the intended platform
- Cached cards showing old information
- Tags inserted only after JavaScript execution
Run the SEO Checker when social metadata is one part of a wider page review.
Frequently asked questions
Does Open Graph control Google search snippets?
No. Open Graph is mainly used for social sharing contexts. Search engines use other page signals to generate title links and snippets.
Why does a social platform show old metadata?
Platforms may cache a previous version. Updating the page does not always update an existing card immediately.
Does the preview guarantee the final crop?
No. Each platform can resize or crop images differently.
Can the checker find tags added by JavaScript?
Only if the tool renders the page before extraction. If it checks returned HTML, later DOM changes may not appear.
Should the Open Graph description match the meta description?
It can, but it is not required. Both should accurately represent the same page and suit their respective contexts.