Whether you’re a seasoned web developer or just starting, understanding Robots.txt is essential for optimising your site’s visibility and protecting sensitive information.

What is a Robots.txt file?

The Robots.txt file is a simple text file that resides on your website’s server and serves as a set of instructions for web crawlers. Web crawlers, or spiders, are automated programs employed by search engines to explore and index the vast expanse of the internet. By utilising Robots.txt, you gain control over what parts of your website these crawlers can access and index.

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Creating Your Robots.txt File: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Access Your Server:
   • Use FTP or your web hosting platform to access your server.
2. Navigate to the Root Directory:
   • Locate the root directory of your website, typically where your homepage (index.html) is stored.
3. Create a New Text File:
   • Create a new text file and name it ‘robots.txt.’
4. Define Rules:
   • Use a simple syntax to define rules for web crawlers. For example:
     
     • You can specify rules for specific web crawlers or user-agents, such as Googlebot or Bingbot.
5. Save and Upload:
   • Save the file and upload it to the root directory of your website.
6. Verify Your Robots.txt:
   • Use online tools like Google’s Search Console to verify the correctness of your Robots.txt file.

Why is it Important?

1. Privacy and Security:
   • Protect sensitive information by preventing crawlers from accessing specific directories.
2. Crawl Budget Optimisation:
   • Direct crawlers to focus on essential pages, improving the efficiency of indexing.
3. SEO Control:
   • Influence how search engines interpret and rank your content by guiding crawlers.
4. Prevent Duplicate Content:
   • Minimise the chances of search engines indexing duplicate content on your site.

Remember, while Robots.txt is a powerful tool, it’s not foolproof. It’s crucial to understand its limitations and complement it with other security measures.

Empower yourself with the knowledge of Robots.txt, and take charge of your website’s accessibility and privacy.