What happens when WordPress contributors, Yoast, and Google devs get together? The magic happens!
In case you haven’t heard, almost a week ago, on June 12, 2019, Thierry Muller, one of WP contributors, posted a proposal covering the XML Sitemaps project. In this post, he explained that the previously mentioned “gang” got together and proposed that XML Sitemaps becomes integrated into the WordPress Core. This proposal also introduced an XML Sitemaps API.
What does it all mean for website owners? What’s in it for the WordPress devs? Here’s everything you should know about this project:
In case you forgot: An XML sitemap is a detailed map of your entire website, all your site’s pages, posts, and hierarchy. Search engine crawlers (tiny robots) use this map to index your website and add it to the SERPs.
Is adding an XML Sitemaps to the WordPress core big news?
Yes, without a doubt!
If you have been a proud WordPress site owner for quite some time then you know that WordPress sites sometimes have issues with being discovered by the search engines. This is the reason why it is recommended WordPress owners use a third-party tool, a plugin that has the XML Sitemaps integration.
However, if you are using too many plugins for different purposes, you can unintentionally slow down your site, which can affect your website’s ranking. You already know how it goes 一 the fewer the number of installed plugins, the better.
Note: Yoast SEO, one of the most popular plugins for SEO, has the XML Sitemaps feature built it and it works just fine. One could not help but wonder how much flexibility a site owner would get if this feature was built in WordPress Core.
Luckily for WP users all over the world, Yoast, Google, and WordPress devs are there to save the day.
What will the XML Sitemaps integration include?
Well, using the XML Sitemaps, you’ll be able to index homepage , all pages and posts, custom post types , tags and categories, custom taxonomies and users.
What won’t be included in the XML Sitemaps integration?
Although the initial XML Sitemaps feature will include a bunch of features, it will not include image, video and news sitemaps. Additionally, there will be no caching mechanism, and it will not support the user-facing changes such as UI controls that exclude individual posts or pages from the sitemap.
Is that it?
Not quite.
As we have mentioned in the beginning, there is a treat for developers 一 the XML Sitemaps API which will allow pretty high extensibility of the previously mentioned features.
Using the XML Sitemaps API, developers will be able to add extra sitemaps, sitemap entries and extra attributes to sitemap entries and provide a custom XML Stylesheet. Additionally, you’ll be able to exclude these things from the Sitemap like a specific post type and post from, a taxonomy, a term, an author (or authors) with a particular role.
Also, If you are wondering about multilingual websites, the XML Sitemaps should offer localized content in the future.
When will the integration become available?
Who knows?!
For know, the WP community is looking for thoughts on this collaboration regarding the best way to start and carry out the project. You can check out the official XML Sitemaps feature project proposal and give your feedback in the comment section.
We will be sure to cover the latest news on XML Sitemaps integration, as well as other WordPress news. If you are interested in reading this type of content, you can subscribe to our newsletter. We won’t spam. Promise!
Are you excited about the XML Sitemaps integration?
If you are not, you should be!
With the help of this integration, your site will be indexed correctly and in no-time, without any hassle or trouble.
We are looking forward to seeing XML Sitemaps come to life!
