Indexing
The process of adding a crawled page to Google's database so it can appear in search results. A page that's crawled but not indexed doesn't exist as far as search is concerned.
Why It Matters
Crawling and indexing are different steps, and understanding the distinction matters. Google might crawl your page - visit it and download it - but decide not to index it. Common reasons: thin content, duplicate content, low quality signals, or canonical tags pointing elsewhere.
If important pages aren't indexed, they can't rank. Period. And with Google becoming more selective about what it indexes (especially since the Helpful Content updates), indexing is no longer guaranteed for every page.
In Practice
Check your indexing status in Google Search Console's Pages report. Look at the "Not indexed" section - it tells you exactly why pages were excluded. Common issues: "Crawled - currently not indexed" (quality problem), "Discovered - currently not indexed" (crawl budget problem), "Duplicate without user-selected canonical" (canonical problem).
For new pages you want indexed quickly, use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing. But remember - requesting doesn't guarantee indexing. If Google thinks the page isn't worth indexing, it won't be.
Consolidate thin pages, improve content quality, and fix technical issues to improve your indexing rate.
Related Terms
Glossary
Crawling
How search engine bots discover and download your pages - the first step to ranking.
Glossary
Google Search Console (GSC)
Google's free tool showing how your site actually performs in search - essential data.
Glossary
Canonical Tag
Tells search engines which version of a page is the original when duplicates exist.
Glossary
Sitemap (XML)
An XML file listing all pages you want search engines to discover and index.
Glossary
Thin Content
Pages with little useful content - Google devalues them and they drag your site down.
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