A `sitemap.xml` file is an XML file that helps search engines understand the structure of a website. It lists all the important URLs on the site, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index content.
Here’s a simple example of what a `sitemap.xml` might look like:
```xml
http://www.example.com/
2023-10-01
monthly
1.0
http://www.example.com/about
2023-10-01
monthly
0.8
http://www.example.com/contact
2023-10-01
monthly
0.6
```
Key elements in a `sitemap.xml` include:
- <url>: Represents a single URL.
- <loc>: The URL of the page.
- <lastmod>: The last modified date of the page.
- <changefreq>: How frequently the page is likely to change (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly).
- <priority>: The priority of the page relative to other pages on the site (0.0 to 1.0).
Having a well-structured `sitemap.xml` can improve your website's visibility in search engine results.