IndexNow
01 Definition
IndexNow meaning: A protocol that instantly tells search engines when site URLs change.
IndexNow is an open protocol, backed by Microsoft and Yandex, that lets a site notify participating search engines the moment pages are added, updated, or removed. You submit URLs with a verification key so engines can crawl changes faster. Google has tested it but does not fully rely on it for indexing.
Also called
Why it matters
How IndexNow fits the work
IndexNow can shorten the gap between publishing a change and search engines seeing it, which helps time-sensitive content get discovered sooner.
In context
After updating prices on 30 product pages, the site pinged IndexNow, and Bing recrawled most of those URLs within a few hours.
Practical note
Submitting a URL does not guarantee indexing or ranking; engines still decide. Support varies by engine, and abuse or false submissions can reduce how much your pings are trusted.