XML sitemap · sitemap.xml
An XML sitemap is a file that lists a site’s URLs to help them get discovered. It is useful on large sites and to signal freshness through the lastmod tag. Google ignores the priority and changefreq tags.
Standalone definition · 37 words
How does an XML sitemap work?
The file follows the sitemaps.org protocol: one url tag per page with loc and, optionally, lastmod. A limit of 50,000 URLs or 50 MB uncompressed applies per file; beyond that, use a sitemap index. It is declared in robots.txt and in Search Console.
What are the best practices?
List only canonical, indexable URLs that return 200. Fill lastmod with the real date of the content’s last modification: Google uses it if it is consistently accurate. Split by content type to track indexing by section.
Sitemap and AI visibility
A clean sitemap helps bots discover pages and spot updates, which matters for freshness. It does not replace internal linking and is no guarantee of indexing or citation. Some AI bots do not use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sitemap mandatory?
No, but it is recommended, especially for large or new sites.
Should noindex pages go in it?
No, only URLs to be indexed.
How often should I update it?
With each publication or change, ideally automatically.
Related terms
Further reading
- Checklist GEO and LLM / AI 2026
- 2026 GEO Tools Comparison: The Decision Guide
- ← Back to the GEO glossary (114 terms)