Sitemaps are files that provide search engines with a structured list of all the pages on a website, helping them crawl and index the site more effectively. Sitemaps can be in XML or HTML format, and they serve as a guide to ensure search engines find and rank the important pages on your website.
An XML sitemap is typically used for search engines, and it includes information like the last updated date, the frequency of changes, and the importance of each page. An HTML sitemap, on the other hand, is designed for users, offering a clear, organized view of the site's structure. Having a sitemap can improve SEO by making it easier for search engines to discover all relevant pages, especially for large or complex websites.