List canonical, indexable URLs only
Avoid redirects, errors, duplicate parameter pages, and URLs explicitly marked not to be indexed.
DISCOVERY CHECK
Sitemap Checker
Validate structure and availability for discovery.
Score sitemap availability, structure, and declarations.
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01XML
02Response
03Health score
Webmaster Technical SEO and AI Discoverability Guide
Learn how robots.txt, sitemap.xml, and llms.txt work together.
A domain checks /sitemap.xml at its root; a full file URL checks that exact location.
Scoring Notes
- HTTP 200 +25, valid XML structure +25, and Content-Type containing xml +15.
- Declared in robots.txt +15, valid UTF-8 +10, and either at least one urlset URL or valid reachable child sitemaps in a sitemapindex +10.
- A response slower than 3 seconds deducts 10; any URL redirect deducts 5.
About sitemaps: present important URLs clearly to search engines
A sitemap is an XML file declaring important site URLs, or a sitemap index pointing to multiple sitemap shards. It helps search engines discover new and updated pages on complex sites, but submission does not guarantee indexing.
A healthy sitemap should be reliably accessible, structurally valid XML, served with an appropriate content type, and discoverable through robots.txt or search-engine tooling. This checker combines availability, structure, encoding, URL entries, declaration, and response performance into an explainable score.
Sitemap Best Practices
Use indexes for larger sites
Split maps by content type, language, or update cadence, then organize them with a sitemapindex file.
Expose via robots.txt and Search Console
Declare the sitemap in robots.txt and submit it in search tooling to observe fetching and processing issues.
Keep update signals honest
Update lastmod only for meaningful content changes so crawl scheduling receives useful signals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does submitting a sitemap guarantee immediate indexing?
No. A sitemap is a discovery hint; crawling, indexing, and ranking remain search-engine decisions.
Where should a sitemap be hosted?
The common entry point is /sitemap.xml at the site root, but another public URL can be used if declared in robots.txt or search tooling.
When should I use a sitemap index?
Use a sitemapindex when a site has multiple sitemap shards, language sections, or a large collection of URLs.
Why does the score check robots.txt declaration?
A robots.txt declaration is a broadly discoverable public entry point. Its absence does not invalidate XML, but removes a useful discovery channel.