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Google Indexing API

Also known as: Indexing API, Google Indexing API

The Google Indexing API is an interface that lets site owners notify Google directly when a page is added, updated or removed. Google documents it only for pages with JobPosting structured data and for livestream pages that use BroadcastEvent inside VideoObject. For all other content, Google’s documentation points to sitemaps.

How does the Indexing API work?

Access needs a service account, verified ownership of the site in Search Console and an access token. Google gives a default quota for testing, 200 units according to the quickstart, and requires an approval request for more. The API has these operations:

  • Publish a notification (URL_UPDATED or URL_DELETED)
  • Get the status of a notification
  • Send batches of up to 100 requests

Quota is counted per URL, whatever the batch size. A deletion request should only be sent after the page returns 404 or 410, or carries a noindex tag.

Example

HTTP
POST https://indexing.googleapis.com/v3/urlNotifications:publish
{
  "url": "https://example.com/jobs/data-analyst",
  "type": "URL_UPDATED"
}

A job board sends this request when a posting goes live or changes, and URL_DELETED when the position is filled and the page returns a 410.

Can the Indexing API be used for other pages?

Google’s documentation lists only the two content types above. Third-party guides sometimes describe it for any URL, and Google warns that abuse can lead to revoked access. For other pages, the documentation recommends submitting XML sitemaps.

Common mistakes

  • Using it for unsupported page types. Google documents the API only for the two types above.
  • Missing verification. Ownership of the site must be verified in Search Console first.
  • Deleting live pages. A deletion needs a 404, 410 or noindex first.
  • Wrong content type. Every call to the endpoint must send application/json as the Content-Type header.
  • Circumventing the quota. Google asks site owners not to get around the submission limits, for example by using multiple accounts.
  • Skipping sitemaps. Google still recommends submitting sitemaps for the whole site.

Sources

  1. Indexing API Quickstart – Google Search Centraldevelopers.google.com
  2. Using the Indexing API – Google Search Centraldevelopers.google.com

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