What is an XML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a machine-readable file listing the pages of a website that its owner wants search engines to know about, often with the date each was last updated. It acts as a map for crawlers.

Why it matters

Sitemaps speed up the discovery of new and updated content, which matters most for new sites and sites that publish regularly.

How to use it

Generate it automatically, keep it free of redirects and dead URLs, and submit it in Google Search Console so indexing issues surface early.

Why it matters

Sitemaps speed up the discovery of new and updated content, which matters most for new sites and sites that publish regularly.

How to use it

Generate it automatically, keep it free of redirects and dead URLs, and submit it in Google Search Console so indexing issues surface early.

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