Indexing API
Google's API that allows site owners to directly notify Google about pages that need to be crawled and indexed immediately. The Indexing API is officially supported for JobPosting and BroadcastEvent schema but is widely used for general content.
The Indexing API provides near-instant indexing of new or updated pages, bypassing the normal crawl queue that can take days or weeks. Instead of waiting for Google to discover changes through sitemap crawling, you push a notification that triggers immediate processing. The API supports URL update notifications (new or changed pages) and URL removal notifications.
For teams running programmatic SEO or time-sensitive content, the Indexing API dramatically accelerates page discovery. When you publish a batch of new programmatic pages, push them through the Indexing API for same-day indexing rather than waiting for the next sitemap crawl. For news or trending content, fast indexing can mean the difference between ranking for a trending query and missing the window entirely. While Google officially supports the API only for job posting and livestream content, it works for general content in practice. Combine the Indexing API with proper sitemap management for a comprehensive indexing strategy. Monitor API quotas (default is 200 requests per day) and prioritize high-value pages when limits are constrained.
Related Terms
Core Web Vitals
A set of three Google-defined metrics that measure real-world user experience for loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. Core Web Vitals are a confirmed ranking factor in Google Search.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
A Core Web Vital that measures the time from page load start until the largest visible content element (image, video, or text block) is rendered on screen. Good LCP is 2.5 seconds or less.
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
A Core Web Vital that measures the latency of all user interactions (clicks, taps, keyboard input) throughout the page lifecycle, reporting the worst interaction. Good INP is 200 milliseconds or less.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
A Core Web Vital that measures the total amount of unexpected layout shifts that occur during a page's entire lifespan. Good CLS is 0.1 or less, where layout shifts are calculated from the impact and distance of moving elements.
Time to First Byte (TTFB)
The duration from the user's request to the first byte of the server response reaching the browser. TTFB measures server-side processing speed and network latency, directly impacting all subsequent loading metrics.
Crawl Budget
The number of pages a search engine bot will crawl on your site within a given timeframe, determined by crawl rate limit and crawl demand. Crawl budget optimization ensures important pages are discovered and indexed efficiently.