What lastmod means
The lastmod value should indicate when a page content meaningfully changed. It can help crawlers prioritize fresh or updated pages, but only when the signal is reliable.
When to update it
- A guide article is changed substantially.
- A tool page gets new instructions, FAQ, or metadata.
- A category page gains or loses visible tools.
- A legal or trust page changes.
Common mistakes
Do not set lastmod to the current time on every sitemap request. That makes every page look updated and weakens the signal.
FAQ
Is lastmod required?
No. It is optional. It is better to omit it than to provide inaccurate dates.
Should redirects be in sitemap.xml?
No. List final canonical URLs, not redirected aliases.