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Root layout missing metadata export

What this means

In the Next.js App Router, site-wide metadata defaults are set by exporting a metadata object from app/layout.tsx. Without it, every page that does not have its own metadata export inherits Next.js’s built-in defaults. Those defaults include the title “Create Next App”, a sure sign that your site shipped without proper SEO configuration.

How to fix it

Export a metadata object from app/layout.tsx. At minimum, set title, description, and metadataBase.

import type { Metadata } from 'next'

export const metadata: Metadata = {
  metadataBase: new URL('https://example.com'),
  title: {
    default: 'Acme - Architecture and Interior Design',
    template: '%s | Acme',
  },
  description: 'Architecture and interior design for residential and commercial clients across London and the South East.',
  openGraph: {
    title: 'Acme - Architecture and Interior Design',
    description: 'Architecture and interior design for residential and commercial clients across London and the South East.',
    url: 'https://example.com',
    siteName: 'Acme',
    images: [{ url: '/og.png', width: 1200, height: 630 }],
    locale: 'en_GB',
    type: 'website',
  },
  twitter: {
    card: 'summary_large_image',
    title: 'Acme - Architecture and Interior Design',
    description: 'Architecture and interior design for residential and commercial clients across London and the South East.',
    images: ['/og.png'],
  },
}

export default function RootLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return (
    <html lang="en-GB">
      <body>{children}</body>
    </html>
  )
}

Individual pages override specific fields by exporting their own metadata object. Fields not set at the page level are inherited from the root layout.

import type { Metadata } from 'next'

export const metadata: Metadata = {
  title: 'About',
  // Renders as "About | Acme" due to the template in root layout
  description: 'Learn about our studio and approach.',
}

Verify the fix

curl -s https://example.com | grep -i '<title'

You should see your title, not “Create Next App”. Re-run the audit:

npx orino audit .