Best Practices
Start from intent, not fear
Do not make your file stricter just because a stricter control exists. Start from the site’s real need.
Use presets as policy models
Presets are safer than blank-page editing because they encode a logic. Treat them as policy models, not just convenience shortcuts.
Keep search, answer generation, and training separate in your reasoning
A modern website may want openness for one use and restriction for another. Treat those questions separately.
Preserve discoverability unless a business reason says otherwise
Public sites often damage themselves by overblocking too early.
Review before publish
The Review & Save step exists because governance files should be published deliberately.
Use the pattern library before improvising
If you are unsure which preset fits your site, do not guess. Start with the Pattern Library and the Robots.txt Guide 2026.
Use governance files to clarify, not to overclaim
Machine-readable files are useful because they constrain interpretation. They are not magical enforcement tools.
When uncertain, prefer a narrower claim
If a broad statement feels smooth but the documentation only supports a narrower one, keep the narrower statement.