What does Googlebot do and how does it operate?

What Is Googlebot?

Googlebot serves as the web crawler employed by Google to collect the necessary information and construct a searchable index of the internet. Googlebot encompasses both mobile and desktop crawlers, alongside specialised ones dedicated to news, images, and videos.

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Google employs various crawlers tailored to specific tasks, and each crawler is identified by a unique string of text known as a “user agent.” Googlebot remains up-to-date with the latest Chrome browser version, ensuring it perceives websites in the same manner as regular users.

Operating across multiple machines, Google Bot chat determines the speed and scope of website crawling. However, it adjusts its crawling pace to avoid overwhelming websites.

Now, let’s delve into the process by which Googlebot builds an index of the internet.

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Process of how Googlebot Crawls and Indexes the Web

Googlebot initiates the process by crawling web pages based on a list of URLs obtained from various sources. It retrieves the HTML content of each page and analyses the underlying code to identify links and references to other pages.

Once the initial crawl is complete, Google Chat Bot revisits the pages to detect any changes or updates. It focuses on the rendered version of the page, considering factors such as JavaScript execution and dynamic content generation. The content from these rendered pages is then stored and made searchable within Google’s index.

If new links are discovered during the crawling process, they are added to the list of URLs for subsequent crawls. This ensures that Googlebot continues to explore and index additional content on the web.

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How to Manage Googlebot’s Behavior?

Google provides several methods for controlling what gets crawled and indexed by Googlebot. Here are the ways you can exert control:

• Controlling crawling:
  • Robots.txt: By using the “robots.txt” file on your website, you can specify which areas should or should not be crawled by Googlebot.
  • Nofollow: Employing the “nofollow” attribute or the “meta robots” tag for links suggests to Googlebot not to follow those links. However, keep in mind that this is only a hint and may be disregarded.
  • Adjust crawl rate: Within Google Search Console, you have the option to modify the crawl rate, allowing you to slow down Googlebot’s crawling activity.
• Controlling indexing:
  • Content deletion: If you delete a page, it won’t be indexed. However, it’s important to note that this also restricts access to the content for everyone.
  • Restricted access: Implementing password protection or authentication mechanisms prevents Googlebot from accessing and indexing the content, as it doesn’t log into websites.
  • Noindex: Using the “noindex” directive in the “meta robots” tag instructs search engines not to index a specific page.
  • URL removal tool: Although the name may be misleading, the URL removal tool temporarily hides the content from appearing in search results while still allowing Googlebot to crawl and process it.
  • Robots.txt (Images only): If you block Googlebot Image from crawling using the “robots.txt” file, your images won’t be indexed.

If you’re unsure about which indexing control method to use, refer to our flowchart in our post on removing URLs from Google search for guidance. It provides a clear decision-making process based on your specific requirements.

Identifying Genuine Googlebot Requests

It’s important to verify the authenticity of Googlebot requests, as some SEO tools and malicious bots may impersonate Googlebot to gain access to websites that attempt to block them.

• Previously, verifying Googlebot required performing a DNS lookup. However, Google has simplified the process by providing a list of public IP addresses that can be used to confirm the requests are genuinely from Google. You can cross-reference this information with the data in your server logs to ensure the legitimacy of the requests.
• Another valuable resource is the “Crawl stats” report available in Google Search Console. By navigating to Settings > Crawl Stats, you can access a comprehensive report containing detailed insights into how Google is crawling your website. The report includes information on which Googlebot is crawling specific files, as well as the timing of their access.

By leveraging these methods, you can effectively verify whether the requests you receive originate from authentic Googlebot sources, providing you with greater confidence in managing and analysing your website’s crawling activities.

How Googlebot Works?

Googlebot functions by systematically crawling and indexing web pages, enabling the delivery of relevant and up-to-date search results. Here is a simplified overview of Googlebot’s operation:

• Crawling: Googlebot initiates its journey by discovering web pages through the exploration of links. It starts with a set of seed URLs and follows the links found on those pages to uncover new URLs. This recursive process continues as Googlebot discovers and crawls additional pages.
• Rendering: Upon identifying a page, Googlebot retrieves the HTML content and parses the underlying code. It then proceeds to render the page, executing JavaScript and processing dynamic elements to generate the final version visible to users.
• Indexing: Following rendering, Googlebot extracts pertinent information from the page, including text, images, metadata, and links. This valuable data is stored in Google’s extensive index, a vast database that organises and catalogues web page information.
• Page Revisit: Googlebot periodically revisits previously crawled pages to monitor for any changes or updates. The frequency of revisits depends on factors such as the page’s freshness, popularity, and significance.
• Ranking: When a user performs a search query, Google’s ranking algorithms scrutinise the indexed pages to determine the most appropriate results. Multiple factors, including relevance, quality, and user signals, influence the ranking of pages.
• Serving Search Results: Finally, Google presents the search results based on the evaluation conducted by the ranking algorithm. Users receive a list of pages that align best with their search query, providing them with the most pertinent and valuable information.

It is important to note that Googlebot operates on an extensive scale, crawling billions of web pages. The crawling process is continuous, with Googlebot striving to maintain a fresh and comprehensive index.

By comprehending the functioning of Googlebot, website owners and marketers can optimise their pages to enhance visibility and relevance in search results.

Role of Googlebot User Agent

The Googlebot user agent denotes the text string that Googlebot includes in its HTTP request headers when it accesses web pages. It serves as a means of identification for website servers and other web-based services.

The user agent string associated with Googlebot can vary depending on the specific version and type of Googlebot being used. However, it generally follows a format that starts with “Googlebot” and may contain additional information.

Here are a few examples of Google AI Chat Bot user agent strings:

• Googlebot: This is the standard user agent string used by Googlebot for regular web crawling.
• Googlebot-Mobile: This user agent string is employed by the mobile version of Googlebot, designed specifically for crawling mobile-optimised web content.
• Googlebot-Image: This user agent string is used by Googlebot when crawling and indexing images on the web.
• Website owners and administrators can leverage the Google AI Chat Bot user agent information to monitor and manage the access of Googlebot to their websites. This enables them to ensure that their content is appropriately served to Googlebot and to validate the authenticity of crawler activity on their site.

Some Google Notes on Googlebot to Consider

Google offers valuable guidelines and recommendations to assist website owners in optimising their interaction with Googlebot. Here are essential points to consider:

• Grant Googlebot access: Ensure that your website’s robots.txt file allows Googlebot to crawl and index your pages. You can verify proper access using the robots.txt Tester tool in Google Search Console.
• Avoid cloaking: Present the same content to Googlebot as you do to regular users. Google discourages cloaking, which involves displaying different content to deceive search engines and may result in penalties.
• Optimise for rendering: Ensure your website is correctly rendered and functional for Googlebot. As Googlebot renders pages similarly to modern browsers, optimising for user experience will also enhance Googlebot’s understanding of your site.
• Mobile-friendly design: With the growing importance of mobile-first indexing, ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive. Googlebot-Mobile specifically crawls mobile-optimised content.
• Verify Googlebot access: Use the “Fetch as Google” tool in Search Console to observe how Googlebot views your pages. This valuable feature assists in identifying and addressing any issues or errors.
• Monitor crawl errors: Regularly inspect your website’s crawl error reports in Google Search Console to identify potential obstacles hindering Googlebot’s access and indexing of your pages.