PHP script outputs XML Sitemap

Question

On my webroot, I have a file, say, foo.php that outputs a valid XML Sitemap. In robots.txt, I have something like:

Sitemap: http://SomeDomain.com/foo.php

Will the sitemap be found by Google, etc.?

I would think so. There is one way to find out. Have you tried submitting it via Google's Search Console? — closetnoc, Aug 27 '16 at 6:20
@closetnoc If you submit it via GSC then Google will undoubtedly "find it" (providing it is indeed a valid XML Sitemap), but isn't part of the question... will it find if it is (only) referenced in robots.txt? (However, you would need to submit it via GSC if you want GSC to report on it. But just because GSC doesn't report on it, doesn't mean it's not found it.) — MrWhite, Aug 27 '16 at 15:16
@w3dk I read the question as this: Because I used a non-standard file extension, would Google not find, but use my PHP script to generate a script? The one way to know if G would have heart burn or not is to test it. — closetnoc, Aug 27 '16 at 16:38
@closetnoc True, I did read it that way as well at first but then thought there must be something more the question? Maybe not? — MrWhite, Aug 28 '16 at 23:39
@w3dk I view this as a try it and see scenario. It would not hurt. Still, I recommend that people submit any sitemap through the Search Console anyway. Same with Bing. Why? Why not! Couldn't hurt. Cheers!! — closetnoc, Aug 28 '16 at 23:43

Milo Tischler · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-27 06:45:55Z

1

A .xml extension is not required, it can even be a GET parameter triggering the sitemap.

See http://www.sitemaps.org/: No specification for a particular file extension.

answered Aug 27 '16 at 6:45

Milo Tischler

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And Google supports the Sitemap: directive in the robots.txt file, so it's reasonable to assume that Google will find it. Reference: developers.google.com/webmasters/control-crawl-index/docs/… – MrWhite Aug 28 '16 at 23:43

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