A site map is a page that lists all the sections and content available on a website in an organized format. Its main purpose is to provide an overview of the site’s structure, allowing visitors to find information without using the navigation menu or internal search engine.
HTML site map and XML sitemap: two tools for two different purposes
These two formats are often confused, which can affect how people look for information. An HTML site map is a standard web page that people can read and that lists links to the site’s various sections. It’s the page to visit when you want to browse a portal’s structure visually.
An XML sitemap is a technical file intended for search engines. It lists URLs to help Google or Bing discover them, but it isn’t designed for visitors to read. Google Search Central’s documentation also makes clear that submitting a sitemap does not guarantee that the URLs it contains will be crawled or indexed.
So if you want to find a page quickly as a user, look for the HTML site map. On the Medic Com site map, for example, sections are grouped by topic, making it easy to find the one that matches your search in just a few seconds.
How to access the site map on any website
Most websites include a link to their site map in the footer. The link text varies: “Site map,” “Sitemap,” or sometimes “All sections.” Usually, all you need to do is scroll to the bottom of the home page.
If there’s no link in the footer, try entering a likely URL directly in your browser’s address bar. The most common formats are:
- nomdusite.fr/plan-du-site for HTML site maps in French, often found on institutional websites and tourism offices
- nomdusite.fr/sitemap or nomdusite.fr/sitemap.xml for technical XML files, mainly useful to SEO professionals
- nomdusite.fr/sitemap_index.xml on large websites that split their sitemap across multiple files
On some websites, you can also access the site map from the help page or the “Legal notices” section. Websites subject to accessibility requirements (WCAG 2.2, criterion 2.4.5) also provide several ways to locate a page, including a site map.
How to use a site map to find the right page
A well-designed site map follows the hierarchy of the main menu but displays it in full. While the menu may show only two or three levels, the site map lists all sub-sections and sometimes individual pages.
Identify the organizational structure
Before scanning each line, take a look at the overall layout. Websites organize their pages in different ways: by topic, by content type (articles, practical guides, forms), or by target audience. Identifying the structure helps you go straight to the right branch of the site hierarchy without reading the entire list.
A useful site map follows a recognizable order that aligns with the main navigation. If the site map labels don’t match the website’s menus, finding what you need becomes more difficult.
Use the page search function
On a site map with hundreds of links, reading through the list is inefficient. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) opens your browser’s search bar. Enter a keyword related to what you’re looking for, and matching results will be highlighted on the page.
This works especially well when the site map uses descriptive page titles rather than codes or abbreviations. A link called “Municipal swimming pool hours and prices” will show up instantly, while a link called “Page 47” won’t match any relevant keywords.
When the site map isn’t enough: combine different ways to navigate
A site map isn’t always the fastest way to find something. On websites that publish content frequently, such as blogs and news portals, recent articles may not appear in the HTML site map right away. For dated or highly specific content, the internal search engine is often a better option.
WCAG 2.2 guidelines recommend providing at least two ways to locate a page, such as navigation, a site map, and search. A site map acts as a safety net: it helps visitors find what the menu doesn’t show, while internal search fills in what the site map doesn’t highlight.
On websites with more than three levels of depth, the site map reveals pages buried too deep to access directly from the menu. That’s where it’s most valuable: it makes visible what would otherwise require a series of clicks or a direct URL to reach.
Site maps remain an underused navigation tool. On a well-structured website, a few seconds on this page are enough to find a specific section, especially when you combine a visual scan of the hierarchy with a keyword search in your browser.
