noun

sitemap

SYTE-map

Sitemap (noun) means a file listing the addresses of the pages on a website, provided so that search engines can find them all and see when each was last changed. Example: “Submit the sitemap so the new articles get picked up more quickly.”

noun

technical A file listing the addresses of the pages on a website, provided so that search engines can find them all and see when each was last changed.

"Submit the sitemap so the new articles get picked up more quickly."

"Half the product pages were missing from the sitemap."

neutral A page or diagram showing how the sections of a website are arranged and how they relate to one another, made for people rather than machines.

"The sitemap is linked in the footer if you would rather browse the structure."

"We drew a sitemap before designing a single screen."

How to Use Sitemap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA list or diagram of all the pages on a website.

When to use it

Written sitemap or site map; sitemap is standard for the search-engine file, site map more common for the diagram.

Memory tip

The two senses serve different audiences: the XML file is written for search engines, the site map page or diagram is written for people.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

robots.txt navigation menu site search

Common pairings

XML sitemap submit a sitemap sitemap index HTML sitemap

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Test yourself on “sitemap” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Submit the _____ so the new articles get picked up more quickly.

Etymology

A compound of site and map.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

XML sitemap URL list index file site structure site index information architecture diagram navigation map

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a sitemap and robots.txt?

A sitemap lists pages a site would like search engines to know about. A robots.txt file tells crawlers which parts of the site they should not request. One suggests what to look at, the other sets out what to leave alone.

Does a sitemap guarantee that pages get indexed?

No. It helps search engines discover addresses, particularly on large sites or pages that few links point to, but each engine still decides for itself which pages to index.

What is the difference between an XML sitemap and an HTML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a machine-readable file for search engines. An HTML sitemap is an ordinary page listing links for visitors to browse. A site may have either, both or neither.