De-index refers to the process of removing web pages or a website from a search engine’s index. When a page is de-indexed, it will no longer appear in search engine results when users perform relevant queries. De-indexing can be intentional, such as when a website owner wants to hide specific pages from search results, or it can happen unintentionally due to issues with the website or search engine policies.
Intentional De-indexing: Website owners may intentionally de-index pages for various reasons. For example, they might want to keep certain pages private, prevent duplicate content issues, or temporarily hide pages during development.
Search Engine Directives: Webmasters can use specific directives in the website’s robots.txt file or include meta tags (e.g.,<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>) in individual pages to instruct search engines not to index them.
Unintentional De-indexing: De-indexing can also occur unintentionally due to technical issues with website or violations of search engine guidelines. For example, if a website is penalized for using black-hat SEO techniques, search engines may de-index its pages.
Re-Indexing: If a page is intentionally de-indexed, the website owner can later request re-indexing through tools provided by search engines, or by removing the noindex directives. Unintentionally de-indexed pages need to address the underlying issues before being considered for re-indexing.
It’s important to note that de-indexing is different from simply removing a page from search engine results pages (SERPs) using the “removal” tools provided by search engines. De-indexing involves removal from the search engine’s index, which is a more permanent action.
In summary, de-indexing involves the intentional or unintentional removal of web pages or a website from a search engine’s index. Website owners have control over intentional de-indexing, typically using directives or meta tags, while unintentional de-indexing may result from technical issues or policy violations.