seo-sitemaplisted

# XML Sitemaps ## Purpose Compare sitemap files with the URLs a site actually intends to expose, then produce safe inventory, generation, or cleanup recommendations. A sitemap is a discovery hint; it neither forces crawling nor guarantees indexation. Read `references/sitemap-inventory-protocol.md` before creating or changing a sitemap. ## Input gate Require the current sitemap/index files, expected canonical/indexable URL inventory, preferred host/protocol, robots/sitemap discovery context, relevant locale rules, and source of truth for update time. Do not generate a sitemap from an unfiltered crawler export or an unverified CMS list. ## Workflow 1. **Parse and retain evidence.** Record sitemap URL, fetch time/status, declared locations, syntax errors, and any nested sitemap references. 2. **Compare with intent.** Check whether each listed URL is expected to be canonical, accessible, indexable, stable, and within the declared locale/host policy. Separately identify important intended URLs that are absent. 3. **Classify mismatches.** Distinguish sitemap hygiene, canonical/indexability conflict, stale inventory, locale mapping, server delivery, and unresolved access issues. 4. **Generate only from verified inventory.** Use current official protocol/engine documentation for limits and fields. Include `lastmod` only when it is a truthful, reliable content-change timestamp. Do not fill optional fields with invented values. 5. **Release safely.** State source system, affecte