How is a Google Sitemap different from an HTML sitemap?
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September 26, 2005
A Google Sitemap is an XML file that uses the
Sitemap protocol. This file lists
URLs in your site, along with optional descriptive information about those URLs (such as when they
were last updated and how often you modify them). You can create this XML file using our
Sitemap Generator
or a
third-party tool.
Google Sitemaps are intended for processing by the Google Sitemaps program.
An HTML sitemap is intended for users of your site. Generally, this type of sitemap provides links
to the pages in your site, and may provide descriptions of those pages. We encourage the use of
HTML sitemaps. They make it easier for users to navigate your site. Also, as we talk about in our
webmaster guidelines,
a clear hierarchy with text and links helps us index your site.
You can't submit an HTML sitemap to the Google Sitemaps program. However, if you are unable to
create or generate a Google Sitemap file in the Sitemap protocol format, you can
submit a text file
that lists URLs in your site.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],[],[[["A Google Sitemap is an XML file listing a website's URLs with optional descriptive information for Google's Sitemaps program, which can be created using various tools but the Google Sitemap Generator is no longer maintained."],["An HTML sitemap, encouraged for user navigation, provides links and descriptions of website pages, aiding both users and search engines in understanding the site structure."],["While HTML sitemaps can't be submitted to Google's Sitemaps program, a text file listing URLs can be submitted as an alternative if a Sitemap protocol file can't be created."],["This blog post may contain outdated information, such as missing images and broken links, specifically noting that the Sitemap Generator is no longer maintained."]]],[]]
