SEO · Website glossary

Indexing

Quick answer · What is Indexing?

The processing and potential storage of page information in a search engine's searchable index.

IN PRACTICE

Indexing: an example

A search engine analyzes a crawled page and decides how to represent its content.

KEEP IN MIND

An accessible page can still be excluded or grouped with another URL; inspect the reported reason before guessing.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Indexing?

A search engine analyzes a crawled page and decides how to represent its content.

Why might an accessible page still be excluded from the index?

An accessible page can still be excluded or grouped with another URL; inspect the reported reason before guessing.

Which concepts should I read alongside Indexing?

Crawling: The discovery and fetching of pages or resources by an automated crawler.
Canonical URL: The preferred representative URL selected or indicated for a set of duplicate or closely similar pages.