Noindex Directive
A tag that tells Google not to index a page.
What it means
A noindex directive (meta robots noindex or an X-Robots-Tag header) instructs search engines not to include a page in their index.
How it affects your SEO
It’s the correct tool for thin, duplicate, or private pages you want crawlable but not ranked. Accidentally applying it to important pages is a common cause of pages that “should” rank but don’t.
Noindex Directive — frequently asked questions
When should I use a noindex directive?
Use it for thin, duplicate, or private pages you want crawlable but not ranked — like filtered search results, staging, or low-value utility pages.
Can noindex accidentally hurt my rankings?
Yes. Applying it to an important page removes that page from the index. Accidental noindex on key pages is a common cause of pages that “should” rank but don’t.
Related SEO terms
Tells Google which version of a page is the “real” one when duplicates exist.
Google’s three speed-and-stability metrics: LCP, INP, and CLS.
Structured data that labels content (reviews, FAQ, products) for search engines.
How many pages Google will crawl on your site per day.
Is this hurting your rankings?
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