Technical Definition
An XML sitemap is a file listing URLs you want search engines to index. It helps crawlers discover pages, especially on large sites or those with poor internal linking. Sitemaps can include lastmod (last modification date), priority, and changefreq attributes, though Google largely ignores priority and changefreq. Submit sitemaps via Google Search Console.
Simple Explanation (ELI13)
An XML sitemap is like giving Google a map of your website. It lists all the pages you want Google to find. This is especially helpful if your site is new or has pages that aren't well linked. You can submit your sitemap in Google Search Console to help Google discover your content faster.
Related Terms
Crawling, Google Search Console, Index Coverage
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