XML

Meaning

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language: a format for structured data, commonly used for sitemap files that list a site's URLs. An XML sitemap is the best-known SEO use, giving search engines a clean list of the pages you consider important. The file must follow the sitemap format, include only URLs you want indexed and return a normal response, and it can be submitted through Search Console. XML is a data format, not a ranking factor. See also: XML sitemap, Crawler, and the guide Technical SEO Basics: Speed, Mobile, Crawling and Security.