Google’s API for URL Inspection
API, or application programming interface, is an abbreviation. An API can be compared to a bridge that enables communication between two software applications.
The launch of Google’s latest ‘Search Console URL Inspection API’ has been announced. According to the search engine giant, SEO specialists will scan URLs in bulk, automatically debug, and rush up page load times. For web designers and SEO specialists who can gain from speedier URL examination efficiency, the launch of January 31st is fantastic news. Google has said on their developer’s page that the most recent Search Console API will quickly enable developers to improve and diagnose any problems that may arise.
The Index Scope analysis and the URL Inspection API are the two Google Search Console tools most helpful in identifying and resolving SEO problems.
You can access many different types of data with the Google Search Console URL Inspection API. However, a few of the most talked-about characteristics are listed below:
Last crawl time
You may precisely determine when Googlebot last viewed your page using this parameter. The ability to gauge how frequently Google crawls a site is helpful for SEOs and developers. Previously, the only way to acquire this data was through log file examination or using Google Search Console to spot-check specific URLs.
robotsTxtState
By looking at this field, you may determine if you have any robots.txt rules that will prevent Googlebot. Although you can check this manually, it is a significant advancement to be able to verify it on a large scale using Google’s data.
You must include a few crucial request parameters to use the URL Inspection API. These consist of:
- inspectionUrl
The URL of the page for which you want to conduct the examination must be entered here. This field must be filled out. There is a “string” return type.
- siteUrl
You must enter the property’s URL exactly as it appears in Google Search Console for this parameter. Similarly necessary, the return type for this field is “string.”
- languageCode
You must enter the language code for translated problem messages in this box. This field is not required. There is a “string” return type.
When using the URL Inspection API, you can obtain the following types of data as examples:
- Indexing condition
- Does Robots.txt permit or forbid URL crawling?
- cellular compatibility
- linking URLs
- Rich Effects
- Whether or not the URL is listed in the site’s map
- the user-declared canonical URL
The Launch’s Effect on SEO
Every organization should make local search engine optimization a top priority. Because it provides valuable data on how a webpage performs in Google’s search engine results, every SEO should have the GSC or Google Search Console in their toolbox.
The program can be used by SEOs to monitor essential pages and find fixes for specific pages continuously. For instance, you can check if there are discrepancies between the canonicals chosen by Google and those indicated by visitors.
Key Learnings
The URL Inspection tool in the Google Search Console provides a wealth of details about the page. For example, it shows the URL’s discovery in sitemaps, the time and date the page was crawled, indexing metadata like the user- and Google-selected canonical, and schemas discovered by Google.
Thanks to the URL Inspection API, developers and SEOs can inspect websites bulk and routinely create automation to track essential pages. It will be interesting to see how developers use the API to develop practical custom scripts.
Your content control system, internal tools, dashboards, and third-party applications can integrate URL Inspection details automatically. In addition, many tool makers and content management systems will likely start adding functionality.
Additionally, feel free to develop your ideas if you have any.
Anticipate significant changes to the range of your website, and you are aware of the URLs that are most presumably to be impacted. This new information will be beneficial.
In addition, the necessary post-launch activities have been carried out. As a result, these reports will be beneficial for understanding how quickly Google is processing and indexing your new content after a new website has gone live.
Filling out a crawl list and querying them each day will help if you’re briefly providing several pages of material to be crawled and indexed.
Read Also: How to Choose the Right Network Service Provider for You