Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Introduces New Googlebot User Agent for Chrome Web Store
Google has launched a new user agent called Google-CWS specifically for the Chrome Web Store. This user agent fetches URLs provided in Chrome extension and theme metadata. It operates as a user-triggered fetcher, meaning it is initiated by user actions within Google products. The user agent string used is “Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Google-CWS)”.
Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding Google’s New User Agent for Chrome Web Store Fetching
Introduction to Google-CWS User Agent
Google has expanded its Googlebot user agents by adding Google-CWS, a specialized fetcher for the Chrome Web Store. This new user agent plays a critical role in retrieving URLs that developers submit in their Chrome extension or theme metadata.
How Google-CWS Works
- User-Triggered Fetcher: Unlike automated crawlers, Google-CWS fetch requests are initiated by user actions within Google products, ensuring relevant and timely content retrieval.
- User Agent String: The fetcher identifies itself as “Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Google-CWS)”, which helps webmasters recognize and differentiate this traffic in their server logs.
- Purpose: This agent ensures that the URLs linked to Chrome extensions and themes are properly accessed and updated as needed for the Chrome Web Store experience.
Implications for Developers and Webmasters
Developers should be aware that URLs provided in their extension metadata will be accessed by this new fetcher. Understanding the user agent helps in troubleshooting and optimizing server responses to ensure smooth operation within the Chrome Web Store ecosystem.
