What Is Indexing and How HTTP Status Codes Affect It

Understanding what indexing is also involves knowing how HTTP status codes affect it. Indexing stores your content in search engines, but HTTP responses guide that process. A "200 OK" response is perfect—it tells search engines the page is accessible. However, a "404 Not Found" or "500 Server Error" can block indexing. A "301 redirect" might send bots elsewhere. If your site has technical issues, it may stop search engines from indexing your content. Regular audits help catch and fix these errors, ensuring your valuable pages are properly indexed and discoverable.