Log File Analysis
Log file analysis is the practice of examining a server's raw access logs to see exactly how search engine crawlers request URLs, including which pages they hit, how often, response codes returned, and where crawl activity is concentrated or wasted.
Why It Matters
Logs show real crawler behavior rather than estimates, revealing crawl waste on low-value URLs, undiscovered pages, and error responses bots encounter. That evidence lets you reallocate crawl capacity toward pages that should be indexed and ranking.
Common Mistake
Trusting user-agent strings without verifying them. Many bots spoof Googlebot, so confirm crawler identity via reverse DNS or published IP ranges before drawing conclusions, or the analysis is built on falsified traffic.