If you want your website to show up on Google, it needs to has both Crawlability and indexability. These two factors are the backbone of technical SEO, ensuring search engines can explore your pages and display them in search results. But what do these terms really mean? Let’s break them down simply.
What Is Crawlability?
Crawlability refers to how easily search engines like Googlebot or Bingbot can find and explore your website’s pages.
Search engines use automated bots (or crawlers) to move from one link to another, collecting information about each page. If your site has broken links, blocked files, or incorrect redirects, crawlers may struggle to access your content.
Good Crawlability Means:
- Your site’s structure is well-organized.
- All important pages are linked internally.
- No unnecessary blocks exist in your
robots.txtfile.
Tip: You can check crawl issues using Google Search Console.
What Is Indexability?
Indexability determines whether a page that has been crawled can be stored (indexed) in a search engine’s database. Only indexed pages appear in Google’s search results.
If your site allows crawling but blocks indexing through meta tags like noindex, your pages won’t show up even if Google can find them.
Good Indexability Means:
- Search engines are allowed to index your pages.
- No “noindex” tags are blocking important content.
- Your sitemap and metadata are properly configured.
Key Difference Between Crawlability and Indexability
| Feature | Crawlability | Indexability |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Allows search engines to explore your site | Allows pages to appear in search results |
| Controlled By | Links, robots.txt, site structure | Meta tags, canonical tags, sitemaps |
| Tools | Google Search Console, Screaming Frog | Google Search Console, Index Coverage Report |
In short:
Crawlability = Discovery
Indexability = Visibility
Why Are Crawlability and Indexability Important for SEO?
Both factors work together to ensure your content gets seen by users searching online. Here’s how:
1. Boosts Search Presence
Without proper crawlability, Google can’t find your pages. Without indexability, they can’t appear in search results.
2. Prevents Wasted Crawl Budget
Google allocates a certain crawl limit (crawl budget) to each site. A clean site structure ensures that only valuable pages get crawled.
3. Improves SEO Performance
Optimizing these aspects helps search engines understand your website, improving rankings over time.
How to Improve Crawlability and Indexability
For Better Crawlability:
- Use a clear internal linking structure.
- Keep your
robots.txtfile updated correctly. - Avoid deep page hierarchies (no more than 3 clicks from the homepage).
For Better Indexability:
- Avoid “noindex” tags on important pages.
- Use canonical tags wisely.
- Submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console.
- Ensure your site loads fast and mobile-friendly.
Common Issues to Avoid
🚫 Blocking all crawlers in your robots.txt file.
🚫 Using “noindex” on pages you want to rank.
🚫 Having duplicate or thin content.
🚫 Poor internal linking structure.
FAQ – Crawlability And Indexability
Q1. Can a page be crawlable but not indexable?
Yes. If a page is crawlable but has a noindex tag, it won’t appear in search results.
Q2. How can I check if my page is indexed?
Simply search site:yourdomain.com/page-url in Google to see if it appears.
Q3. Does improving crawlability increase rankings?
Indirectly. It helps Google understand your site better, which can boost your SEO performance.
Conclusion
Crawlability and indexability are the foundation of SEO success. If Google can’t crawl your site, it won’t find your pages. If it can’t index them, they won’t appear in search results.
Regularly monitor your site with Google Search Console, fix technical errors, and keep your structure simple. Remember — if Google can’t see it, no one else will.
