The X-Robots-Tag is an HTTP header used to control the indexing and crawling behavior of search engine bots on a per-page basis. By placing specific directives within this header, webmasters can instruct search engines on how to handle particular pages or files, such as whether to index the content or follow links. This tool provides granular control over a website’s visibility in search engine results.
Its primary function is to offer an alternative to meta robots tags embedded within HTML, particularly useful for non-HTML files like PDFs or image files. The X-Robots-Tag allows for the inclusion of commands such as “noindex” or “nofollow,” which can prevent sensitive or duplicate content from being indexed. This ensures that only the most relevant and high-quality pages contribute to a site’s overall search ranking.
Implementing the X-Robots-Tag correctly is crucial for maintaining effective SEO and protecting sensitive information. It enables website owners to fine-tune how search engines interact with their content, preventing unintended exposure of content that may hurt the site’s SEO performance. As part of a broader SEO strategy, it is an essential tool for managing content visibility and optimizing search engine interactions.
👉 See the definition in Polish: X-Robots-Tag (HTTP Header): Dyrektywa dla indeksowania przez wyszukiwarki