=== XML Sitemap Generator for Google SEO by WPCodeQuill ===
Contributors: wpcodequill
Tags: sitemap, xml sitemap, google sitemap, sitemap generator, seo
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 8.2
Stable tag: 1.0.2
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Fast, lightweight XML sitemap generator for WordPress and WooCommerce. Zero bloat, instant transient caching, and automatic Google indexing support.


== Description ==

**XML Sitemap Generator for Google SEO by WPCodeQuill** is a high-performance, strictly coded XML sitemap manager built to help search engines discover and index your content faster without sacrificing website speed or privacy.

Most SEO suites bundle massive, resource-heavy features that slow down your database with telemetry, external scripts, and constant upsells. This plugin is built with a singular focus: ultra-fast, strictly standard XML sitemaps that operate 100% locally inside your WordPress environment.

### Why WordPress Users & Developers Trust It
* **Zero Bloat & 100% Privacy:** No telemetry, no background analytics tracking, no external API calls, and no mandatory account signups. Everything runs locally on your server.
* **Transient-Powered Caching:** Prevents server slowdowns. Sitemaps are cached using intelligent WordPress transients with hook-based cache invalidation, ensuring lightning-fast response times for Googlebot.
* **Seamless Core Integration:** Gracefully replaces the default WordPress core sitemap (WP 5.5+) directly at the root (`/sitemap.xml`), eliminating duplicate sitemap URLs and preserving crawl budget.
* **Intelligent 'Noindex' Detection:** Works harmoniously with on-page SEO plugins (Yoast SEO, Rank Math, All in One SEO). Automatically detects and respects `noindex` meta tags to prevent indexing conflicts.

### Key Features
* **Automated XML Sitemap Indexes:** Automatically organizes your content into modular sitemap index files (`sitemap.xml`) to easily handle large websites without memory spikes.
* **Full WooCommerce Support:** Native compatibility with WooCommerce products, product categories, and product tags.
* **Custom Post Types & Taxonomies:** Choose exactly which public post types and taxonomies get exposed to search engine crawlers.
* **Search Engine Ready:** Fully compatible with Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, Yandex, and Baidu.
* **Developer Friendly:** Clean object-oriented architecture following strict WordPress Coding Standards (WPCS) and PHP 8.2+ type safety.

== Screenshots ==

1. The clean and comprehensive settings dashboard featuring IndexNow, change frequencies, and content inclusion controls.
2. The custom branded XML sitemap index rendered via the built-in XSLT stylesheet.
3. The dynamic Additional Pages repeater interface for manual URL inclusions.

== Installation ==

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to **Plugins > Add New**.
3. Search for **XML Sitemap Generator for Google SEO by WPCodeQuill** (or upload the `.zip` file via **Upload Plugin**).
4. Click **Install Now** and then **Activate**.
5. Go to **Settings > Sitemap Generator** in your admin menu to select which post types and taxonomies you want to include.
6. Submit your sitemap URL (`https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml`) directly to **Google Search Console** under the **Sitemaps** tab.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= What is an XML sitemap? =
An XML sitemap is a structured file listing a website's critical pages, ensuring search engines like Google and Bing crawl and index your site efficiently.

= Where can I find my sitemap once activated? =
Your primary sitemap index is available at `https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml`.

= Does WordPress already have a built-in sitemap? =
Yes. WordPress introduced basic core sitemaps in version 5.5. This plugin cleanly takes over that endpoint to add caching, granular content inclusion/exclusion controls, WooCommerce integration, and automated sitemap indexes.

= Can I use this plugin alongside Yoast SEO or Rank Math? =
Yes. If you prefer using those plugins for on-page meta titles and descriptions, you can disable their built-in XML sitemaps and let WPCodeQuill handle the generation. Our engine automatically respects their `noindex` rules.

= Is this plugin compatible with WooCommerce? =
Yes. WooCommerce Products, Product Categories, and Tags are recognized out of the box and can be toggled on or off in settings.

= Does having an XML sitemap guarantee instant Google ranking? =
No. Sitemaps allow search engine bots to discover, crawl, and understand site hierarchy faster. Ranking and indexing remain dependent on on-page content relevance and quality.

= Does this plugin collect user analytics or telemetry? =
No. WPCodeQuill strictly adheres to user privacy. The plugin executes locally on your web host without sending any data offsite.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.2 - October 12, 2026 =
* Fixing: Activation problems.

= 1.0.1 - October 12, 2026 =
* Added: IndexNow protocol support with automated non-blocking background pings to Microsoft Bing, Seznam.cz, Naver, and Yandex upon post publication.
* Added: Dedicated sitemap-misc.xml handler supporting the core homepage and custom "Additional Pages" via a dynamic admin repeater interface.
* Added: Comprehensive settings controls for change frequencies, URL priorities, minimum post priority thresholds, and category/post exclusions.
* Added: Custom branded XSLT stylesheet (sitemap-index.xsl) for an optimized human-readable sitemap table view with active lastmod timestamps.
* Optimized: Transient caching system with automatic version bumping and explicit database transient garbage collection to prevent table bloat.
* Refactored: Full codebase alignment with strict WordPress Coding Standards (WPCS), I18n translation comment rules, global variable prefixing, and secure wp_parse_url() implementation.

= 1.0.0 - September 21, 2026 =
* Initial official release.
* Automated XML sitemap index and sub-sitemap generation.
* WordPress core sitemap interception and replacement.
* Hook-based transient caching mechanism.
* Native WooCommerce taxonomy and product support.
* Granular post type selection inside WordPress Admin settings.