If you’re experienced in SEO, you ‘ve probably heard the term “crawler,” but do you really know what it’s all about? Don’t worry, we’ll explain it to you right here…
A crawler is a type of crawler that analyzes documents available on web pages on Google . They are also known as spiders, robots, or crawlers.
These names refer to their function of traveling across the Internet, collecting information from different categories. In this way, they weave a kind of network with the results obtained.
What is a Crawler used for ?
A crawler ‘s fundamental function is to generate a database of web pages based on their content . It’s like a kind of library with enough information to make comparisons between the websites being scanned.
From another perspective, Google Crawlers function as tools that allow search engines to obtain sufficient information to evaluate web pages and determine their SERP ranking.
Some of the comparisons crawlers make are based on information such as website prices, email organization, data regarding user visits from external links, among others.
Google’s statistical algorithms don’t work without these trackers!
How does a Google Crawler work?
To explain how Google Crawlers work , it’s important to note that there are different types of spiders that perform multiple tasks. But without a doubt, the most famous robot developed by Google is the Googlebot . Have you heard of it?
The Googlebot is also a crawler that updates the database of web pages within the SERP by including new results.
As you’d expect, this task is of utmost importance because it ensures that you, as an internet user and Google user, get the results you expect when you perform a search . If Google can deliver up-to-date and accurate results in milliseconds… it’s thanks to the Googlebot!
Now that we’ve explained this, it’s time to answer the question of how Google crawlers work . We’ll tell you a little about it below:
Its main function is to generate and maintain an updated index of the web pages available on the site. This index is known in the digital world as “SERP,” which stands for “Search Engine Results Page.” The criteria for obtaining these indexes are as follows :
- Textual content that is displayed.
- Analysis of links and hyperlinks in web page listings.
- Analysis of HTML tags.
The web crawler then performs a thorough analysis of the robots.txt files to identify any content it is not allowed to crawl due to a specific restriction.
Finally, the spider compresses the collected information and sends it to the server that sent it the crawl and… Job done!
Types of Crawlers
Crawlers can be categorized according to their functions . Below are three common types:
- Semrush : Its function is to travel the entire Internet in search of links that have been placed on other websites to access yours.
- Deepcrawler : This tool searches and reviews all of your website’s SEO. This allows you to identify any errors that could affect your SERP ranking, such as broken links, source code errors, and more.
- Miners : This type of Crawler allows you to extract certain detailed information about your website to provide it with a new use.
How to block a Crawler ?
Despite the great usefulness of these tools, they sometimes need to be blocked due to the actions of cybercriminals . They often alter the code to include spam on their own websites.
In these cases, you’ll need to block the crawler . You can do this by crawling the URLs from which visitors come . You’ll then need to block them through .htaccess (if you’re using an Apache server) or with the robots.txt file.
