In brief: Crawling is the automated traversal of URLs by a robot that loads content and follows links. For search engines, it precedes any possible indexing of a page.
How I use crawling (web crawling) in practice
I approach crawling (web crawling) from the simplest test to more expensive diagnostics. First I try to reproduce the problem, separate a content error from a template error, and find how many addresses it affects. I deploy the fix to a small sample, check its status and internal links, and only then extend it.
What to watch out for
A technical solution must not hide weak content. Crawling (web crawling) can remove an obstacle, but it cannot create a reason for a person to visit or trust a page. I therefore assess a fix together with the URL's role, internal linking, and next step.
Questions for the decision
- What exactly does the server return, and what does a person see at an important URL?
- Is it an isolated error or a pattern in a shared template?
- What is the impact on discoverability, usability, or conversion?
- How will we test the change before a broad rollout?