Robots.txt Content
Test Configuration
Test Result
Robots.txt Analysis
About Robots.txt Tester
The Robots.txt Tester is a free online tool that helps website owners, SEO specialists, and developers analyze and validate their robots.txt files. This file plays a critical role in controlling search engine crawlers and ensuring your website is properly indexed.
Why Use This Tool?
- Validate Syntax: Check your robots.txt for errors and proper formatting
- Test URLs: Verify if specific pages are allowed or blocked for search engines
- Crawl Control: Ensure important pages are crawled while blocking sensitive areas
- SEO Optimization: Improve your site's search engine visibility
- Prevent Mistakes: Avoid accidentally blocking search engines from your entire site
How It Works
Simply paste your robots.txt content or fetch it directly from your website. Then configure your test by selecting a user agent (like Googlebot) and entering a URL you want to test. Our tool will analyze the rules and instantly show whether the URL is allowed or blocked.
Robots.txt Best Practices
- Place robots.txt at your domain root (e.g., example.com/robots.txt)
- Use specific user-agent rules when needed
- Always include a wildcard rule (User-agent: *)
- Use Disallow and Allow directives carefully
- Include your sitemap location
- Test your robots.txt regularly, especially after changes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a robots.txt file?
A robots.txt file is a text file that tells web crawlers which pages or sections of your website they can or cannot request. It's part of the Robots Exclusion Protocol and is placed in the root directory of websites.
Is robots.txt required for my website?
No, robots.txt is not required. If you don't have one, search engines will crawl your entire site. However, it's highly recommended to have one to control crawler access and prevent crawling of private or duplicate content.
Can robots.txt completely block search engines?
While robots.txt can instruct crawlers not to access certain content, it does not actually prevent pages from being indexed if there are links to them from other sites. For complete blocking, use noindex meta tags or password protection.
How often should I check my robots.txt file?
You should check your robots.txt file whenever you make changes to your site structure, add new sections, or when you notice indexing issues. It's good practice to review it quarterly as part of your SEO maintenance.
Does this tool store my robots.txt content?
No, this tool processes everything in your browser. Your robots.txt content is never sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security for your website configuration.