SEO · Definition
301 redirect
An HTTP status indicating that a resource has moved permanently to another URL.
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20 definitions · Website glossary
SEO,
explained.
Understand how pages are discovered, indexed, represented, and connected in search.
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SEO20
20 terms available
SEO · Definition
302 redirect
An HTTP status indicating a temporary redirection to another URL.
Understand the termSEO · Definition
404 error
An HTTP status indicating that the server cannot find a current representation of the requested resource.
Understand the termSEO · Definition
Anchor text
The readable text of a hyperlink that communicates something about its destination.
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Canonical URL
The preferred representative URL selected or indicated for a set of duplicate or closely similar pages.
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Crawling
The discovery and fetching of pages or resources by an automated crawler.
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Duplicate content
Content that is identical or substantially similar at more than one URL.
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hreflang
A link annotation identifying alternate versions of a page for specified languages or regions.
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Indexing
The processing and potential storage of page information in a search engine's searchable index.
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Internal link
A hyperlink connecting one page to another within the same website.
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Meta description
An HTML metadata field offering a summary of a page's content.
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noindex
A robots directive asking supporting search engines not to include a page in search results.
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Organic search
Visits or visibility arising from unpaid search results rather than paid search advertisements.
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Redirect
A response or mechanism that sends a user agent from one URL to another.
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robots.txt
A file at a site's root that gives compliant crawlers rules about which URLs they may request.
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Search Console
Google's tool for viewing a verified property's search performance, indexing information, and related diagnostics.
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Search intent
The task or information need a person is trying to satisfy through a query.
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Structured data
Machine-readable markup using a defined vocabulary to describe entities or content on a page.
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Title element
The HTML element that names a document for browsers and other consumers, including search systems.
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XML sitemap
A machine-readable file listing URLs a site wants search engines to discover, optionally with supported metadata.
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Where should I start with the SEO glossary?
Start with crawling and indexing, then review URL signals, meaningful metadata, and useful internal links.
- Crawling: The discovery and fetching of pages or resources by an automated crawler.
- Indexing: The processing and potential storage of page information in a search engine's searchable index.
- Canonical URL: The preferred representative URL selected or indicated for a set of duplicate or closely similar pages.
Which terms help me understand crawling and indexing controls?
- robots.txt: A file at a site's root that gives compliant crawlers rules about which URLs they may request.
- noindex: A robots directive asking supporting search engines not to include a page in search results.
- XML sitemap: A machine-readable file listing URLs a site wants search engines to discover, optionally with supported metadata.
Which practical guides build on the SEO terms?
- Check search readiness before a website launch: Review discoverability, preferred URLs, and visible content signals while preserving the intended privacy of previews and restricted areas.
- Investigate why a public page is not indexed: Work through accessibility, indexing controls, canonical selection, and content context before repeatedly submitting the same URL.