E1 · The list
15 minWrite urls-chave.txt with 10 URLs that must be in the index, all returning 200.
Done when: the file has 10 URLs from the same domain, one per line, and each one opens without errors.
Lesson 3 · 17 min
URL Inspection: indexed, discovered, unknown
Before you measure clicks, confirm the page is in the index. The Search Console URL Inspection tells you, page by page, whether Google knows it, crawled it, indexed it, and which address it chose as the official one. Each state calls for a different action. In this lesson you build the list of your key URLs and read the state of each one.
Start the lesson
In this lesson you will
- 1The four states that matter
- 2The right action for each state
- 3Why a batch of thin pages doesn't get in
- 4Build and check the list of key URLs
Goal: read the state of each key URL in the inspection and pick the right action for each state.
01From unknown to indexed
Click each state to see the action.
Click each block in the diagram to see what it does.
URL Inspection doesn't move a page up a step on its own. It tells you which step the page is on and what's missing.
02The key URL list and how to read it
Click each step.
1. The list
Pick the pages that need to be in the index: home, topic pages, catalog, new pages of the month.
Save them in a file called urls-chave.txt. It's the same list every week.
2. The inspection
In Search Console, paste each URL into the inspection bar. Write down the status, the date of the last crawl, and Google's canonical.
gsc_inspecionar.py does the same in batch, with credentials. The API is read-only: "Request indexing" is still a click in the dashboard.
At INEMA
On 10/05/2026, 12 of 14 key URLs were indexed. On 10/13, 13 of 14. /eventos/ was missing, "unknown to Google".
3. The batch that doesn't get in
Many similar pages published at once often get stuck at "discovered".
Before you ask for indexing again, compare the pages with each other.
At INEMA (09/23/2026)
283 course pages were published in a single commit. Of a sample of 6, 5 were discovered and never crawled. Each page had 170 to 240 words, two randomly picked pages shared 47% of their vocabulary, the FAQ was identical, and the description was copied.
4. The link that disappeared
If an indexed page falls out again, look for what changed in the internal links.
A page with no server-rendered link becomes an orphan for the search engine.
At INEMA (09/30/2026)
The /cursos/ page became "search only" and the 310 course pages lost their only server-rendered internal link. The fix was a collapsed index, with no visual change.
03The list, the command, and the log
Replace what's between < > with your own. The command needs a Google credential; without one, inspect in the dashboard.
urls-chave.txt (one per line)
https://www.<seusite.com>/ https://www.<seusite.com>/<pagina-de-assunto>/ https://www.<seusite.com>/<catalogo>/ https://www.<seusite.com>/<pagina-nova>/
Terminal · batch inspection (gsc_inspecionar.py)
export GSC_QUOTA_PROJ="<projeto-da-cota>" python3 tools/gsc_inspecionar.py sc-domain:<seusite.com> $(cat urls-chave.txt)
Weekly log (template)
| URL | status | last crawl | Google's canonical | action | |---|---|---|---|---| | </pagina/> | <Submitted and indexed> | <yyyy-mm-dd> | <same> | <none> | | </outra/> | <URL is unknown to Google> | - | - | <internal link + sitemap + request indexing> |
Example from the repository
| URL | status | crawl |
|---|---|---|
| / | Submitted and indexed | 2026-10-12 |
| /aprender-inteligencia-artificial/ | Submitted and indexed | 2026-10-10 |
| /es/aprender-inteligencia-artificial/ | Submitted and indexed | 2026-10-03 |
| /cursos/ | Submitted and indexed | 2026-10-12 |
| /eventos/ | URL is unknown to Google | - |
5 of the 14 rows in the weekly report. Indexed: 13 of 14.
https://www.seusite.com/pagina/ Enviada e indexada | rastreio 2026-10-13 | canônico Google https://www.seusite.com/pagina/
Format simulation: status, date of the last crawl, and the canonical Google chose.
04Practice: your key URLs
Start with the dashboard; the script is optional.
E2 · The log with an action
40 minInspect the 10 URLs and fill in the log. For each one that is not indexed, write the action from the diagram.
Done when: the log has 10 rows with status, crawl date, and Google canonical, and every non-indexed row has a written action.
05Test what you learned
The explanation appears after your answer.
Question 1 of 4
A page shows up as "Discovered – currently not indexed". What does that mean?skill
Correct
Discovered comes before the crawl. Crawled – currently not indexed comes after: Google read it and chose not to keep it.Not this one
Discovered comes before the crawl. Crawled – currently not indexed comes after: Google read it and chose not to keep it.Review: From unknown to indexedQuestion 2 of 4
A batch of 283 similar pages doesn't make it into the index. What's the first action?
Correct
At INEMA, the profile pages were 170 to 240 words long, and two picked at random shared 47% of their vocabulary. The problem was the batch, not the request.Not this one
At INEMA, the profile pages were 170 to 240 words long, and two picked at random shared 47% of their vocabulary. The problem was the batch, not the request.Review: The key URL list and how to read itQuestion 3 of 4
Where does a URL that is "unknown to Google" go?
Correct
Unknown means there's no path: no link or sitemap led Google to it.Not this one
Unknown means there's no path: no link or sitemap led Google to it.Review: From unknown to indexedQuestion 4 of 4
Can the gsc_inspecionar.py script request indexing?
Correct
The script reads status, crawl, and canonical. The "Request indexing" button only exists in the dashboard.Not this one
The script reads status, crawl, and canonical. The "Request indexing" button only exists in the dashboard.Review: The key URL list and how to read itQuiz complete
You got {a} of {n} right. Get them all right and the lesson is marked as complete.Pick an answer. The explanation shows up after you try.
06Take with you
Four statesUnknown, discovered, crawled, and indexed. Each one has its own action.
A thin batch doesn't get inBefore you ask again, compare the pages with each other.
Same list every weekThe urls-chave.txt shows when a state gets better or worse.