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        4. Does Google index XML files?

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        Does Google index XML files?

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        • nicole.healthline
          nicole.healthline last edited by

          Does Google or other search engines include XML files in their index? More specifically, I am wondering how Google knows the difference between an xml filetype and an RSS feed.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • RyanKent
            RyanKent last edited by

            Yes, Google indexes XML files. You can try a search using filetype:xml

            I am not an expert on RSS files but I believe the XML versions use the <rss>tag. If I were to take a guess, I would say Google can easily examine the file (they read pdf's for example) and determine if it is an RSS feed.</rss>

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Bevelwise
              Bevelwise last edited by

              Google and other search engines know about XML files.  The reason I don't necessarily say indexed is because you don't see them really popping up on a SERP page.  Robots know the difference between a straight xml file and an rss feed because of the technical markup and structure of the actual file.

              For example a very common use for Google and xml files is sitemaps, which you can give them the sitemap feed in Webmaster tools so they will know about the file.  If you did a search for www.rootdomain.com + sitemap file you would never see an .xml file actually popup.  You would need to visit the url directly.

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