Search engine crawling is the process by which search engines systematically browse the internet to discover and index new and updated web pages. Crawlers, also known as spiders or bots, follow links from one page to another to gather information that helps build the search engine's index.
Synonyms: web crawling, spidering, search engine spider, website crawling, SEO crawling

Search engine crawling is essential because it allows search engines to find and understand the content on your website. Without crawling, your pages won't be indexed or appear in search results, making it impossible for users to discover your site through organic search.
Crawlers start by visiting a list of known URLs and then follow links on those pages to find new content. They analyze the page content, structure, and metadata to determine relevance and how to rank the page in search results. Proper website structure and internal linking help crawlers navigate your site efficiently.
When you publish a new blog post, search engine crawlers visit your site to find and index the new content. If you update an existing page, crawlers will revisit to update their index with the latest information. Tools like Google Search Console can show you how often your site is crawled.