The following article is our English interpretation of an post originally published on Baidu Webmaster Help pages in Chinese language. If you'd like to check out the original article, you can find it here: https://ziyuan.baidu.com/college/courseinfo?id=267&page=6A website’s Index refers to the number of its pages that are eligible to appear in search results — in other words, the pages that have been successfully crawled and indexed by a search engine like Baidu.
Before any page shows up in search results, it must be:
- Crawled by the search engine
- Filtered through several evaluation layers
- Stored in the index as a potential search result
This entire process of evaluating and storing pages is what’s known as indexing.
How to Use Baidu’s Index Tool
Step 1: Register and log in to the Baidu Search Resource Platform
Step 2: Submit your website and verify ownership (instructions available in the help docs)
Step 3: Navigate to Search Services → Stats → Index to set your Index analysis preferences
Step 4: View your website’s Index data and track changes over time
Understanding Index Metrics
The Index only reflects how many pages from your site Baidu has added to its index, meaning how many pages could potentially appear in search results. However, not all indexed pages are created equal.
Some pages may have higher visibility due to:
- Unique or rare content
- Higher content quality
- Relevance to user searches
For example, even if a website has 100 million indexed pages, only a few hundred might actually drive traffic. So don’t obsess over the raw Index number. Instead, monitor Index + Traffic together — if your traffic changes drastically, use Index data to help diagnose why. Conversely, if your Index fluctuates but traffic remains stable, there’s likely no need for concern.
Baidu Index Tool: FAQs
Q: Is the Index data updated daily? Why does it sometimes seem delayed?
A: Index data is updated at least once a week, and sometimes as frequently as once per day. Update schedules may vary depending on the site.
Q: How long is Index data retained?
A: You can view daily Index data from the past 12 months. Data older than that is aggregated into monthly summaries.
Q: What are common reasons for a drop in Index count, and how can I fix them?
A: See the official Baidu guide on common causes and solutions for Index declines.
What You Really Need to Know About Indexing
Indexing is crucial because it’s the first step in getting your site in front of search users. However, there are still many misunderstandings among webmasters. Here are some common misconceptions — and the reality:
❌ Misconception: You can check how many pages are indexed using site:yourdomain.com
✅ Reality: The site: command only gives a rough estimate. Always rely on the Baidu Index Tool for accurate data.
❌ Misconception: More indexed pages = more traffic
✅ Reality: Indexing has multiple levels. Only top-tier indexed pages have a strong chance of ranking well. Pages in lower-tier indexes may never surface in search results.
❌ Misconception: You should check Index data daily and report every fluctuation
✅ Reality: Index data is most useful when analyzing traffic changes. It’s not necessary to monitor it every day unless your traffic changes significantly.
❌ Misconception: Index numbers should only go up
✅ Reality: Fluctuations of up to 10% or more are totally normal. As long as your traffic remains steady, there’s no reason to panic.