SEO Glossary: the robots.txt file

What is the robots.txt file?

A standard of the robots exclusion protocol

The robots.txt file is a key element of the robots exclusion protocol, allowing website managers to communicate with search engines about which pages to crawl or ignore. This text file, located at the root of the site, plays a crucial role in optimizing crawling. By specifying directories or files to exclude, it protects sensitive or developing information while reducing the workload of indexing bots, thus optimizing server resources. However, it is essential to note that the directives in the robots.txt file are merely suggestions that robots may or may not follow. By utilizing this standard, SEO specialists ensure strategic indexing, avoiding content duplication and preserving site performance. The effectiveness of the file lies in its precise drafting, requiring a deep understanding of SEO best practices for optimal deployment.

• User-agent: The name of a robot to which the directives apply.
• Disallow: Directive specifying the pages not to be crawled.
• Sitemap: Location of the XML file for complete indexing.

Difference between robots.txt and meta robots

In the field of SEO, distinguishing between the robots.txt file and the meta robots tag is fundamental for optimizing indexing management by search engines. The robots.txt file is used to provide global instructions to indexing robots about which parts of a website can or cannot be crawled. It is placed at the root of the site and affects all search engines that respect it. In contrast, the meta robots tag is inserted into the HTML code of specific pages and offers more granular control. It allows for specifying actions such as indexing or link following on an individual page. While robots.txt acts upstream to limit access to entire sections of the site, the meta robots tag intervenes directly at the page level to refine indexing or non-indexing instructions. It is crucial for webmasters to understand and use these two tools properly to ensure optimal visibility and protect sensitive information while maximizing organic search ranking.

• Indexing: The process by which search engines analyze and record web content.
• Noindex: A directive telling robots not to index a page.
• Nofollow: A directive preventing page links from passing authority.