Video sitemaps
Video sitemap information uses Google's video sitemap extension to describe videos on a page — title, description, thumbnail, and either a content or player URL — so Google can discover and understand them for video features. This page covers the required video namespace tags, the relationship to VideoObject structured data, and common pitfalls.
What this means
A video sitemap is a standard sitemap that adds Google's video namespace so each url can carry video:video metadata describing a video hosted on that page. It helps Google find and understand videos, which can make them eligible for video results and the video tab.
The same information can be provided with VideoObject structured data on the page; the required fields are largely equivalent. Use whichever fits your workflow, but be consistent.
Required fields
Each video:video typically requires a video:thumbnail_loc (thumbnail URL), video:title, video:description, and either a video:content_loc (the raw video file URL) or a video:player_loc (the URL of a player for the video). Recommended fields include duration, publication date, and view-related metadata.
Titles and descriptions must match the page, the thumbnail must represent the video, and the content or player URL must point to the actual video. Use absolute URLs and keep the assets accessible to Googlebot.
- Required: thumbnail_loc, title, description
- Plus content_loc OR player_loc
- Recommended: duration, publication_date
- Metadata must match the page's video
Video sitemap versus VideoObject
A video sitemap and VideoObject structured data carry overlapping information; Google accepts either to learn about a page's videos. Sitemaps are convenient for bulk, dynamically managed video libraries; on-page markup keeps the data with the content.
Whichever you use, do not block the video files, thumbnails, or player resources in robots.txt, since Google needs to access them. Validate VideoObject markup with the Rich Results Test, and monitor Search Console's Videos report for indexing issues.
How it appears in analytics and logs
Video sitemap entries supply the metadata Google needs to surface a video — title, description, thumbnail, duration, and a content or player URL. They aid video discovery and eligibility for video features; they do not guarantee the video appears, and the metadata must match the page.
Diagnostic use case
Help Google discover and understand videos, especially when they are loaded dynamically, by listing required metadata in a video sitemap or equivalent VideoObject markup.
What WebmasterID can help detect
WebmasterID shows which crawlers fetch your video host pages and assets and the responses returned, helping confirm that the thumbnail, content, and player URLs you list are reachable to crawlers.
Common mistakes
- Omitting a required field (thumbnail, title, description, or a content/player URL).
- Blocking video files, thumbnails, or the player in robots.txt so Google cannot access them.
- Listing metadata that does not match the actual video on the page.
- Using a thumbnail that does not represent the video content.
Privacy and accuracy notes
Video sitemaps reference public video assets and host pages, not viewers. WebmasterID records crawler fetches as bot events and collects no viewer data.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a video sitemap entry require?
- A thumbnail URL, a title, a description, and either a content URL (the raw video file) or a player URL. Recommended extras include duration and publication date. The metadata must match the video on the page.
- Should I use a video sitemap or VideoObject markup?
- Either works — they carry overlapping information. A video sitemap suits bulk, dynamically managed libraries; VideoObject structured data keeps the metadata on the page. Be consistent and do not block the assets in robots.txt.
Related pages
- XML sitemap best practices
An XML sitemap lists URLs you want crawled, helping search engines discover pages they might miss through links alone. The format has firm limits — 50,000 URLs and 50MB uncompressed per file — and works best when it contains only canonical, indexable, 200-status URLs with accurate lastmod values. This page covers the documented rules and the common quality problems that make a sitemap less useful.
- Image sitemaps
Image sitemap information uses Google's image sitemap extension to list images associated with a page, helping Google discover images it might not otherwise find — for example those loaded via JavaScript or referenced in CSS. This page covers the image namespace, the per-page image limit, and when image sitemap data is worth adding.
- News sitemaps
A News sitemap uses Google's news sitemap extension to help Google News discover recent articles. It is specialized: include only articles published in the last two days, limit it to 1,000 URLs, and update it as new articles appear. This page covers the news namespace tags, the constraints, and how News sitemaps differ from standard sitemaps.
- Website observability
Confirm crawlers can reach your video thumbnails, files, and players.
Sources and verification notes
- Google Search Central — Video sitemaps and alternativesRequired video tags and relationship to VideoObject.
Last reviewed 2026-06-24. Facts are checked against primary/official sources where available; uncertain specifics are marked “Data not yet verified” rather than guessed.