Robots.txt Generator: Control Search Engine Crawlers
Generate robots.txt files to control how search engine crawlers access and index your website. This robots.txt generator creates proper directives for Google, Bing, and other search engines. Perfect for SEO professionals, website owners, and developers who need to manage crawler access, improve crawl efficiency, and prevent indexing of sensitive content.
Understanding Robots.txt
Robots.txt is a text file placed in your website's root directory that tells search engine crawlers which pages they can and cannot access. Key points:
- Crawler control: Specifies which bots can access your site
- Crawl efficiency: Prevents wasting crawl budget on unimportant pages
- Private content protection: Blocks crawlers from private or admin areas
- Indexation control: Manages which pages search engines can index
- Server load reduction: Prevents excessive crawler requests
- Standards compliance: Follows Robots Exclusion Standard (REP)
How to Use Robots.txt Generator
- Enter your sitemap URL (optional but recommended for SEO)
- Add any paths you want to disallow (admin, private, etc.)
- Click "Generate Robots.txt"
- Copy the generated content
- Create a robots.txt file in your website's root directory
- Paste the content and upload the file
- Verify in Google Search Console
Robots.txt Directives
| Directive |
Purpose |
Example |
| User-agent |
Specifies which bot applies |
User-agent: Googlebot |
| Disallow |
Blocks crawler from path |
Disallow: /admin/ |
| Allow |
Allows crawler to path |
Allow: /admin/public/ |
| Crawl-delay |
Minimum wait between requests |
Crawl-delay: 1 |
| Sitemap |
Points to sitemap file |
Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml |
Common Paths to Disallow
- /admin/ - Administration and backend areas
- /private/ - Private user content
- /temp/ - Temporary or test pages
- /*.php - Script files (if not needed)
- /js/ - JavaScript files (optional)
- /css/ - Stylesheet files (optional)
- /search - Search result pages
- /category?filter= - Filtered category pages
Robots.txt Best Practices
- Include sitemap: Always add your sitemap URL for better indexation
- Specific paths: Block specific paths rather than entire sections
- Test thoroughly: Use Google Search Console to test your robots.txt
- Keep updated: Maintain robots.txt as your site structure changes
- Combine with meta tags: Use both robots.txt and noindex meta tags for control
- Security: Don't rely on robots.txt for sensitive content - use authentication
- Monitor crawls: Check Google Search Console for crawler issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Is robots.txt mandatory?
No, but it's strongly recommended. Even without robots.txt, search engines can still crawl your site. However, robots.txt helps you manage crawling efficiently and prevent wasted crawl budget.
Does robots.txt prevent indexing?
Robots.txt prevents crawling, not indexing. If a page is linked from external sites, search engines might still index it without crawling. Use noindex meta tag for true non-indexing.
Can robots.txt be seen?
Yes, robots.txt is public. Anyone can view it by going to yourdomain.com/robots.txt. Don't include sensitive information or consider it a security measure.
How do I test my robots.txt?
Use Google Search Console's robots.txt tester. Go to Crawl > robots.txt Tester to verify your directives work correctly.
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