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Sitemap Validator

Ensure your XML sitemap strictly follows the Sitemap Protocol 0.9. We flag duplicate URLs, missing namespaces, and invalid non-HTTPS canonicals.

How to Use This Tool

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Enter Sitemap URL

Input the absolute URL of your published XML sitemap (e.g., https://example.com/sitemap.xml).
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Run Validation

Click check to let our backend fetch and parse the raw XML file exactly as a search engine would.
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Review Errors

Check our report for critical syntax errors, missing namespaces, or invalid XML structure.
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Review Warnings

Look for non-fatal issues like duplicate URL declarations or non-HTTPS links.
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Apply Fixes

Use the feedback to correct the errors in your CMS or sitemap generation script.
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Recommended Action

Re-validate your updated sitemap, then submit the clean version to Google Search Console.

What We Validate

XML Syntax

We verify that the file can be parsed as a valid XML document and contains either the standard <urlset> or <sitemapindex> root elements required by the 0.9 protocol.

Protocol Checks

Sitemaps should only contain absolute, canonical URLs. We flag any non-HTTPS URLs or relative paths that will cause Google Search Console to throw errors.

Duplicate URLs

CMS plugins often accidentally output the same URL multiple times (e.g., if a product belongs to two categories). We detect and warn you about duplicate <loc> tags.

Size Limits

We ensure your sitemap does not exceed the strict 50MB uncompressed file size limit or the 50,000 URL limit enforced by all major search engines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does sitemap validation check?

It checks that your XML file is syntactically valid, contains the correct namespace schemas, and follows the correct structure (e.g., having <urlset> or <sitemapindex> tags).

Why is my sitemap invalid?

Common reasons include missing XML declarations, broken tags, invalid characters in URLs, or using an incorrect XML namespace.

Can a sitemap contain duplicate URLs?

Technically yes, an XML sitemap can parse with duplicate URLs, but it is a bad SEO practice. Search engines prefer clean sitemaps with unique, canonical URLs.

Can a validator check HTTP status codes?

Basic XML validation does not fetch the URLs to check their HTTP status. To verify that URLs return a 200 OK status, use our Sitemap Checker or Website Crawler tools.

What happens if my sitemap is invalid?

If your sitemap is structurally invalid, Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools will reject it. This means search engines will fall back to standard crawling, which can delay indexing of new pages.

Are XML sitemaps case sensitive?

Yes, XML is strictly case-sensitive. Tags like <Urlset> or <LOC> will cause a validation failure because the official sitemap protocol requires lowercase <urlset> and <loc>.

Related Tools

Sitemap CheckerSitemap AnalyzerXML Sitemap Generator
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