Understanding the Robots Meta Tag
The robots meta tag is an HTML element that gives instructions to search engines on how to handle a specific webpage.
What Does It Do?
It tells search engines whether they should:
- Index the page (include it in search results)
- Follow the links on the page
- Show page snippets in search results
Where Is It Placed?
This tag should be placed within the head section of your HTML code.
When and How to Use It
You can use the robots meta tag:
- On individual pages
- Across multiple pages using consistent settings
It’s commonly used to:
- Prevent certain pages from being indexed (e.g., thank-you pages, admin sections)
- Block search engines from following outbound or internal links
- Customize how your page content appears in search results
Use With Caution
Incorrect use of this tag can harm your site's visibility in search engines. Always double-check the directives to avoid accidentally blocking important content.
Combining Directives
When multiple directives are used (e.g., noindex, follow), Google typically follows the most restrictive instruction. For example, if a page has both noindex and index, the noindex directive will take precedence.
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Written by RGB Web Tech
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