Crawling
Definition
Crawling is the initial step in the search engine's process of discovering and cataloging web content. Search engines use automated programs called crawlers or spiders that systematically browse the web, following links from one page to another. During this process, the crawler collects data about each page it visits, including its content, structure, and links.
Google Search Console provides insights into how Google crawls your site through the Crawl Stats report. This report shows how often Google crawls your site, any crawl errors encountered, and the response codes received. Understanding and optimizing your site's crawlability is crucial for ensuring that search engines can effectively index and rank your content.
Related Terms
Crawl Errors
Crawl Errors in Google Search Console highlight issues that prevent search engines from properly accessing and indexing your website's pages.
Indexing
Indexing is the process by which search engines add your web pages to their database, making them eligible to appear in search results.
Robots.txt
Robots.txt is a text file that instructs search engine crawlers which pages or sections of a website should not be processed or scanned.