What is XML sitemap?
The short answer
An XML sitemap is a machine-readable file listing a site's URLs, and when each last changed, submitted to search engines to help them discover pages.
XML sitemap, explained
It does not guarantee indexing, but it makes sure crawlers know every page you want considered, especially new and deep ones.
Questions people ask about XML sitemap
What is XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a machine-readable file listing a site's URLs, and when each last changed, submitted to search engines to help them discover pages.
Related terms
A sitemap is a list of a website's pages: an XML file for search engines, or a page of links for people, that shows what exists and how it is organised.
CrawlingCrawling is how search engines discover pages: automated bots follow links and sitemaps, fetch pages and pass them on to be analysed and indexed.
Google Search ConsoleGoogle Search Console is Google's free tool for site owners that shows search performance, indexing status and problems, and accepts sitemap submissions.
IndexNowIndexNow is an open protocol that lets a site notify participating search engines the moment a page is added, updated or deleted, instead of waiting to be recrawled.
Part of the Web Encyclopedia by Apex Flow Digital. Definitions are general knowledge, kept current, with no invented statistics.