Meta Robots Tags: noindex, nofollow and the Four Combinations
Two small words — index, follow — control how search engines treat a page. Learn the four combinations and when each applies.
What is the Meta Robots Tag Generator?
Meta robots tags control crawling and indexing per page — noindex keeps a page out of search, nofollow stops link equity passing on. This generator builds the tag from your two choices.
How to use it
- Choose indexing and link-following options.
- Click Generate meta robots tag.
- Paste the tag into your page head.
Worked example
Choosing noindex + follow produces the tag used for thin utility pages you still want crawled.
What is the difference between noindex and nofollow?
Noindex means do not index this page; nofollow means do not pass ranking credit through its links. They solve different problems and are often combined.
Frequently asked questions
Does noindex remove a page from search?
It asks search engines to drop it. Removal follows on the next crawl.
Can I use robots.txt instead?
Robots.txt blocks crawling, which can prevent noindex from ever being seen. Use the meta tag for pages crawlers can reach.