The Ins and Outs of Robots.txt: Setup, Checking and Effective Tactics
Have you ever wondered how websites control which areas are off-limits to search engines? The answer lies in a tiny yet influential file called ‘robots.txt’. You can use it to communicate with the search bots that crawl your website, but you must have a deeper understanding of their language to be able to use it properly.
In this article, we will delve into the details of what a robots.txt file is, how to configure it, and how to check if the file is working properly. What’s more, we will provide general guidelines for the contents of a robots.txt file.
Let’s jump in!
What is a robots.txt file?
A robots.txt file is a text document located in the root directory of a website, containing information specifically intended for search engine crawlers. It instructs them on which URLs, including pages, files, folders, etc., should be crawled and which ones should not. While the presence of this file is not mandatory for a website’s operation of the website, its correct setup is crucial for effective SEO.