# Log File Analysis

> Analyzing server logs to understand how search engines crawl your site.

Source: https://anotherseoguru.com/en/glossary/log-file-analysis

Log file analysis involves examining your web server's log files to see exactly which pages search engine bots visit, how often, and whether they encounter errors. It provides ground truth about crawl behavior.

## Example

Logs show Googlebot visits your blog 1000 times/day but your product pages only 50 times/day - indicating crawl priority issues.

## How to apply it

Filter logs for bot user agents, identify frequently/rarely crawled pages, spot crawl errors, detect crawl waste, analyze crawl patterns over time.

> **Pro tip:** Log files are the only way to see what Googlebot actually does, not what you think it does. They can reveal hidden issues GSC doesn't show.

## Related terms

- [Crawling](https://anotherseoguru.com/en/glossary/crawling)
- [Crawl Budget](https://anotherseoguru.com/en/glossary/crawl-budget)