Traditionally, it's been widely accepted that the robots.txt file must be at the root domain, such as example.com/robots.txt. However, Illyes shed light on an often overlooked aspect of the Robots Exclusion Protocol (REP), suggesting that this isn't an absolute necessity.
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What is REP?
The Robots Exclusion Protocol (REP) guidelines allow website owners to manage search engine crawler access using a "robots.txt" file. By restricting unnecessary crawling, REP helps control which parts of a site can be indexed, protect sensitive content, and prevent server overload. Despite being widely used, REP isn't an official internet standard.
Robots.txt File Flexibility
Illyes revealed that it's entirely acceptable to have more than one robots.txt file hosted on different domains, for instance, one on your main website and another on a Content Delivery Network (CDN). This flexibility allows websites to centralize their robots.txt file management on a CDN while controlling crawler access for their leading site.
For example, a website might have one robots.txt file at https://cdn.example.com/robots.txt and another at https://www.example.com/robots.txt. This setup helps maintain a single, comprehensive robots.txt file on the CDN, which can then be referenced from the main domain.
Crawlers that follow the RFC9309 standard will adhere to the redirection and use the robots.txt file from the target URL as if it were from the original domain.
A Look Back at 30 Years of Robots.txt
As the Robots Exclusion Protocol celebrates its 30th anniversary, Illyes' insights highlight the evolving nature of web standards. He even suggested rethinking the file's traditional name, "robots.txt," suggesting that the future might change how crawl directives are managed.
How REP Can Help You?
Illyes' guidance can be beneficial for webmasters and SEO professionals in several ways:
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Efficient Management:
Hosting the robots.txt file on a CDN allows for streamlined management and updates of crawl directives across all web properties, simplifying the process from a single location.
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Enhanced Consistency:
Utilizing a centralized robots.txt file mitigates the potential for conflicting directives between your primary website and any content delivery networks (CDNs) you employ.
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Adaptability:
This method provides enhanced flexibility, particularly for websites with intricate architectures or those that utilize multiple subdomains and CDNs.
Effect on SEO
The flexibility in placing robots.txt files can significantly impact SEO. By centralizing the robots.txt file on a CDN, webmasters can streamline the management of crawl directives, ensuring consistent rules across all web properties. This reduces the risk of conflicting instructions, making it more straightforward for search engines to understand which parts of the site should be indexed. As a result, it can lead to better control over how content is crawled and displayed in search results, ultimately improving the site's visibility and ranking.
Also Read: - What are the techniques of SEO?
Conclusion
Illyes' revelations encourage a more flexible and streamlined approach to managing robots.txt files. It can enhance site management and improve your site's SEO efforts. It's a timely reminder that even long-standing best practices can evolve, and staying informed is critical to effective web management.
