Robots.txt Generator
Generate robots.txt rules with a user agent, allowed paths, disallowed paths and sitemap URL.
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Complete guide to Robots.txt Generator
Tool Overview
The Robots.txt Generator helps create a robots.txt file that gives web crawlers instructions about which areas of a website they may or may not crawl. The file is normally placed at the root of a domain, for example https://example.com/robots.txt, where compliant search engine robots can find it automatically.
The tool makes it easier to build directives such as User-agent, Disallow, Allow, and Sitemap without typing the file manually. This can reduce syntax mistakes and help website owners create a clear crawling policy for specific folders, URL patterns, or bots.
What Is a Robots.txt File Used For?
A robots.txt file controls crawling, not guaranteed indexing. This distinction is important. Blocking a URL with Disallow tells compliant crawlers not to request it, but the URL can still potentially appear in search results if search engines discover it through external or internal links. Sensitive information should therefore never be protected with robots.txt; proper authentication or access controls are required.
Common uses include preventing crawlers from wasting resources on internal search results, certain parameter combinations, staging areas that are already protected, or technical folders that do not need to be crawled. The file can also reference the XML sitemap location.
A single incorrect rule can unintentionally block important sections of a website, so generated directives should always be reviewed before deployment.
Use Cases
- Create a basic robots.txt file for a new website.
- Block crawling of selected technical directories.
- Define rules for a specific crawler.
- Add an XML sitemap URL to the file.
- Prepare a file for WordPress, custom CMS, or static websites.
- Review directives before replacing an existing robots.txt configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Does robots.txt remove pages from Google?
No. It primarily controls crawling. A blocked URL may still be indexed if Google discovers it through links or other signals.
Can robots.txt protect private content?
No. The file is publicly accessible and is not a security mechanism. Private areas require authentication or other proper access restrictions.
Where should robots.txt be placed?
It should normally be available at the root of the hostname, such as https://example.com/robots.txt.
What does User-agent: * mean?
The asterisk applies the following rules to all crawlers that respect the robots exclusion protocol, unless more specific rules apply.
Can I include my sitemap in robots.txt?
Yes. A Sitemap: directive can point crawlers to the full URL of an XML sitemap.
What happens if I accidentally block the entire site?
A rule such as Disallow: / under the relevant user agent can prevent crawling of all paths. Always test important changes before deploying them to a live site.