Ask any question about SEO here... and get an instant response.
Post this Question & Answer:
How does the robots.txt file impact page indexing?
Asked on Feb 02, 2026
Answer
The robots.txt file is a crucial tool for controlling how search engine bots interact with your website, specifically by allowing or disallowing access to certain parts of your site for indexing purposes.
Example Concept: The robots.txt file instructs search engine crawlers on which pages or sections of a website should not be crawled or indexed. By specifying "Disallow" directives, webmasters can prevent search engines from accessing sensitive or irrelevant content, thereby optimizing the crawl budget and focusing indexing efforts on important pages.
Additional Comment:
- Place the robots.txt file in the root directory of your website (e.g., www.example.com/robots.txt).
- Use the "User-agent" directive to specify which search engines the rules apply to (e.g., Googlebot).
- Be cautious with "Disallow" directives to avoid accidentally blocking important pages from being indexed.
- Regularly review and update the robots.txt file to align with your SEO strategy and site changes.
Recommended Links:
