What is the difference between XML and HTML sitemaps?

Both XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and HTML (HyperText Markup Language) are used to structure and organize information on the web, but they serve different purposes.

XML sitemaps are primarily designed for search engines, providing a list of all the URLs on a website and additional crawlable information, such as the last modified **** and the priority of each page. On the other hand, HTML sitemaps are created for users, offering a user-friendly outline of a website’s structure, usually presented as a hierarchical list of links.

Let’s dive in further.

What is an XML Sitemap?

Developed as an offshoot from a prior standard (GML), XML has become the standard vocabulary to define the structure or architecture of a website. However, XML is widely used as a means to exchange data through other means, such as APIs. Essentially, XML is one method for how computers “talk” to each other through a standardized “tags” format.

A basic example of standard XML for websites looks like this:

This example is for a single page with “last modified ****” to inform search engines of a change. There are optional priority and frequency tags, but most search engines ignore them and use their internal algorithms to determine those factors.

In addition to regular XML sitemaps, specialized sitemaps are designed for specific types of content, such as images, videos, and news. And there were also mobile sitemaps before most search engines went to a mobile-first crawl standard.

Image Sitemaps

Image sitemaps are used to help search engines understand and index the images on a page. By providing the image URL, image sitemaps enable search engines to categorize image content better.

Having image elements in your sitemap is especially important if the images on your website are presented using JavaScript. Images from a CDN can also be added to the sitemap, but you’ll need to verify the domain separately in the various webmaster tools.

There are two ways to add image sitemap data. First, as a separate file, such as:

But you might have noticed the first example has a namespace that belongs to Google. So, it’s unclear whether other search engines will recognize this format.

The better method is to include the image data within your main XML sitemap, like so:

Using this format, all search engines will understand your website’s structure. An image sitemap can increase visibility and traffic for websites heavily relying on visuals in search, such as photography portfolios or e-commerce sites, so it’s worth adding.

Video and News Sitemaps

There are two other primary formats that I will not dive too far into, but you should definitely read more on video and news sitemaps if your website’s content is heavy in those areas.

Video sitemaps include details such as the video URL, title, description, duration, thumbnail image, and even whether the video content is family-friendly. By utilizing video sitemaps, website owners can ensure that their video content is indexed correctly and displayed in search engine results, leading to increased visibility and engagement.

And with news sitemaps, your website will benefit by submitting fresh news content. The only caveats are news sitemaps are Google-only and should only include the last 2 days of content. For Bing, you would use PubHub and follow their submission guidelines.

What is an HTML Sitemap?

These sitemaps are not for search engines or computers but rather for humans — your web visitors. An HTML Sitemap is a comprehensive map of your website, allowing visitors to navigate its content easily.

HTML sitemaps provide a user-friendly, visually appealing layout that showcases the structure of your website and presents all its pages in an organized manner. By offering a hierarchical structure and clear links, HTML Sitemaps enhance user experience (UX) and make it easier for visitors to quickly locate the information they’re after.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between XML and HTML sitemaps is crucial for optimizing your website’s visibility and potential search engine rankings. XML sitemaps are machine-readable files that provide search engines with a comprehensive list of all the pages on your website, while HTML sitemaps are user-friendly pages that help visitors navigate your site more easily.

While there are no inherent risks to having a sitemap, it is essential to regularly update and maintain it to reflect any changes to your website’s structure or content.