Name: IndexNow API: Submit URLs and Sitemaps to Bing and Yandex
Brand: lycorax
SKU: api-lycorax-lycorax-index-submit-api
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

Youssef Ferri

# Lycorax Index Submit API

## Overview

The Lycorax Index Submit API sends your URLs to search engines that support the IndexNow protocol, including Bing, Yandex, Seznam, Naver and Yep, so they know a page is new or has changed and can crawl it. It has 5 endpoints that follow the IndexNow ownership flow. You first call the key generate endpoint with your hostname to get an IndexNow key and the exact file to place at your site root. Once that file is live, the key verify endpoint confirms the engines will be able to read it. With a verified key you can submit a list of URLs, or point the sitemap endpoint at a sitemap or sitemap index and have every URL in it submitted for you. A fifth endpoint lists the engines you can target. The API checks your key file before every submission, so only the owner of a site can submit its URLs.

It is built for site owners, SEO teams, publishers, e-commerce stores and CMS or hosting platforms that want new and updated pages picked up quickly by IndexNow engines without writing their own IndexNow client. Responses are JSON. The key endpoints return the key, the file name, the file content and the upload location, and the verify endpoint returns `verified: true` or `false` with a `reason` when the check fails. A verified submission returns a status for each engine you targeted. Errors use one shape: an `error` object with a machine-readable `code`, a human-readable `message` and the HTTP `status`. Submitting a URL asks the engines to crawl it; whether and when a page is indexed is each engine's decision. Google does not support IndexNow.

## Features

*   **5 endpoints**: Key generate, key verify, URL submit, sitemap submit and a list of supported engines.
*   **Simple inputs**: A hostname to generate a key, the hostname and key to verify, and a JSON body with your URLs or sitemap location to submit.
*   **Bulk submission**: The provider states that the URL submit endpoint accepts up to 10,000 URLs per call.
*   **Sitemap support**: Submit every URL in a sitemap or sitemap index in one call. If you leave `sitemap` out, it defaults to `https://<host>/sitemap.xml`.
*   **Engine targeting**: Choose from `indexnow`, `bing`, `yandex`, `seznam`, `naver` and `yep`. The default `indexnow` endpoint shares submitted URLs with all participating IndexNow engines.
*   **Ownership check**: Every submission first confirms your IndexNow key file is live on the site, and fails with `412 key_not_verified` if it is not.
*   **Data source and method**: URLs are submitted to the engines' IndexNow endpoints, such as `https://api.indexnow.org/indexnow`, `https://www.bing.com/indexnow` and `https://yandex.com/indexnow`.
*   **Rate limit**: 10 requests per second on every plan.

## Use Cases

*   **Publishing workflows**: Submit a new article or product page as soon as it goes live so IndexNow engines can crawl it quickly.
*   **Site migrations and relaunches**: Push a full sitemap after a redesign or URL change so engines pick up the new structure.
*   **E-commerce updates**: Notify engines when prices, stock or product pages change.
*   **CMS and hosting platforms**: Offer IndexNow submission to your customers through one API, with key generation and verification built in.
*   **SEO tooling**: Add per-engine submission status to an SEO dashboard or audit tool.
*   **Scheduled sitemap pings**: Run a nightly job that resubmits your sitemap so changed pages are flagged for recrawl.

## API Documentation

### Base URL

All requests go through the API.market gateway at this base URL:

```
https://prod.api.market/api/v1/lycorax/lycorax-index-submit-api
```

### Authentication

Every request needs your API.market key in the `x-api-market-key` header:

```
x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY
```

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your actual API key.

### Endpoints

#### 1. Generate an IndexNow key

Generates a new IndexNow key for your site and tells you exactly which file to host. The response gives the key, the file name, the text the file must contain and the full URL where it must be reachable. Upload the file to your site root so it returns exactly the key, then call the verify endpoint.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/key/generate`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `host` | query | The hostname of your site, for example `www.example.com`. Used to build the `upload_to` URL. | string | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/lycorax/lycorax-index-submit-api/v1/key/generate?host=api.market" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "key": "df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a",
  "file_name": "df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a.txt",
  "file_content": "df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a",
  "upload_to": "https://api.market/df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a.txt",
  "next": "Upload the file to your site root so it returns exactly the key, then call GET /v1/key/verify."
}
```

#### 2. Verify the key file

Checks that your IndexNow key file is live on the site and returns its content as expected. The response has `verified: true` when the check passes, or `verified: false` with a `reason` when it fails, such as the file returning HTTP 404. Run this after hosting the file and before your first submission.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/key/verify`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `host` | query | The hostname of your site, for example `www.example.com`. | string | Yes | - | - |
| `key` | query | The IndexNow key returned by the generate endpoint. | string | Yes | - | - |
| `keyLocation` | query | Full URL of the key file, if you hosted it somewhere other than the default. | string | No | `https://<host>/<key>.txt` | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/lycorax/lycorax-index-submit-api/v1/key/verify?host=api.market&key=df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, key file not hosted yet):**

```json
{
  "host": "api.market",
  "verified": false,
  "keyLocation": "https://api.market/df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a.txt",
  "reason": "key file returned HTTP 404"
}
```

#### 3. Submit URLs

Submits a list of URLs on your host to the IndexNow engines you choose. The API checks your key file first. A verified submission returns a status for each engine you targeted; if the key file is not live, the request fails with `412 key_not_verified`.

**Method:** `POST`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/submit`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `host` | body | The hostname of your site, for example `www.example.com`. | string | Yes | - | - |
| `key` | body | Your IndexNow key. | string | Yes | - | - |
| `urls` | body | The URLs to submit. They should belong to `host`. | array of strings | Yes | - | 10,000 items |
| `keyLocation` | body | Full URL of the key file, if you hosted it somewhere other than the default. | string | No | `https://<host>/<key>.txt` | - |
| `engines` | body | Engines to submit to. One or more of `indexnow`, `bing`, `yandex`, `seznam`, `naver`, `yep`. | array of strings | No | `["indexnow"]` | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X POST "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/lycorax/lycorax-index-submit-api/v1/submit" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "host": "api.market",
    "key": "df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a",
    "urls": ["https://api.market/"]
  }'
```

**Example Response (412 Precondition Failed, before the key file is hosted):**

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "key_not_verified",
    "message": "Key file check failed: key file returned HTTP 404. Host https://api.market/df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a.txt on the site first (GET /v1/key/generate explains how).",
    "status": 412
  }
}
```

Once the key file is hosted and verified, the same request returns `200 OK` with a submission status for each engine.

#### 4. Submit a sitemap

Reads a sitemap or sitemap index from your site and submits every URL in it to the IndexNow engines you choose. As with URL submission, the key file is checked first. A verified submission returns a status for each engine; if the key file is not live, the request fails with `412 key_not_verified`.

**Method:** `POST`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/submit/sitemap`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `host` | body | The hostname of your site, for example `www.example.com`. | string | Yes | - | - |
| `key` | body | Your IndexNow key. | string | Yes | - | - |
| `sitemap` | body | Full URL of the sitemap or sitemap index to read. | string | No | `https://<host>/sitemap.xml` | - |
| `keyLocation` | body | Full URL of the key file, if you hosted it somewhere other than the default. | string | No | `https://<host>/<key>.txt` | - |
| `engines` | body | Engines to submit to. One or more of `indexnow`, `bing`, `yandex`, `seznam`, `naver`, `yep`. | array of strings | No | `["indexnow"]` | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X POST "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/lycorax/lycorax-index-submit-api/v1/submit/sitemap" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "host": "api.market",
    "key": "df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a",
    "sitemap": "https://api.market/sitemap.xml"
  }'
```

**Example Response (412 Precondition Failed, before the key file is hosted):**

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "key_not_verified",
    "message": "Key file check failed: key file returned HTTP 404. Host https://api.market/df00825f4b9bc183106dca80de79c30a.txt on the site first (GET /v1/key/generate explains how).",
    "status": 412
  }
}
```

Once the key file is hosted and verified, the same request returns `200 OK` with a submission status for each engine.

#### 5. List supported engines

Returns the engines you can target, each with its `id` and IndexNow `endpoint`, the default engine list, and a note on how IndexNow sharing works. Use the `id` values in the `engines` field of the submit endpoints.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/v1/engines`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | This endpoint takes no parameters. | - | - | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/lycorax/lycorax-index-submit-api/v1/engines" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK, abridged):**

```json
{
  "engines": [
    {
      "id": "indexnow",
      "endpoint": "https://api.indexnow.org/indexnow"
    },
    {
      "id": "bing",
      "endpoint": "https://www.bing.com/indexnow"
    },
    {
      "id": "yandex",
      "endpoint": "https://yandex.com/indexnow"
    }
  ],
  "default": [
    "indexnow"
  ],
  "note": "Submitting to one IndexNow engine shares the URLs with all participating engines. Google does not accept IndexNow. Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console (Sitemaps report) instead."
}
```

## Status Codes

| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | The request succeeded. For key verify, check the `verified` field: a key file that cannot be read still returns `200` with `verified: false` and a `reason`. |
| 400 | Bad Request | The request is malformed, for example the JSON body cannot be parsed. |
| 401 | Unauthorized | The `x-api-market-key` value is invalid or expired. |
| 403 | Forbidden | Your subscription does not include this endpoint. |
| 404 | Not Found | The endpoint path does not exist. Check the path against the list above. |
| 412 | Precondition Failed | The key file check failed (`key_not_verified`). Host the file from the generate endpoint at your site root, confirm it with the verify endpoint, then submit again. |
| 422 | Unprocessable Entity | A required field such as `host`, `key` or `urls` is missing or invalid, or the request breaks a limit such as the maximum number of URLs. |
| 424 | Failed Dependency | Returned by the sitemap endpoint when a step it depends on fails, such as reading the sitemap. Check that the sitemap URL is reachable. |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | You went over 10 requests per second, or you have used all the calls in your plan. |
| 500 | Internal Server Error | Something failed while processing the request. Retry after a short delay. |

## Rate Limits

The Free, Basic and Pro plans each allow 10 requests per second. They include 50, 5,000 and 50,000 calls respectively. Requests above the per-second limit, or after the plan's calls are used up, return `429 Too Many Requests`. Back off before retrying and honour any `Retry-After` header. Because one call can carry up to 10,000 URLs, or a whole sitemap, batch your URLs rather than sending one request per page. In our tests the key generate endpoint answered in about 0.6 seconds and the other endpoints in 0.7 to 1.3 seconds.

## FAQ

**Does this submit my URLs to Google?**

No. Google does not support IndexNow. Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console instead. This API covers IndexNow engines such as Bing, Yandex, Seznam, Naver and Yep.

**Why do I have to host a key file?**

IndexNow engines only accept submissions from the owner of a site, and they prove ownership by fetching a key file from that site. Call `/v1/key/generate?host=`, upload the file it describes to your site root so it returns exactly the key, then call `/v1/key/verify`. Until the file is live, submissions return `412 key_not_verified`.

**Does submitting a URL mean it will be indexed?**

No. A submission asks the engines to crawl the URL. Whether and when the page is indexed is each engine's decision.

**Which engines should I choose?**

The default, `indexnow`, sends your URLs to the shared IndexNow endpoint, and submitting to one IndexNow engine shares the URLs with all participating engines. You can also target `bing`, `yandex`, `seznam`, `naver` or `yep` directly through the `engines` field. Call `/v1/engines` for the current list.

**How many URLs can I submit in one call?**

The provider states up to 10,000 URLs per call to `/v1/submit`. For larger sites, use `/v1/submit/sitemap`, which reads a sitemap or sitemap index and submits every URL in it.

**Can I host the key file somewhere other than the site root?**

By default the API looks for the file at `https://<host>/<key>.txt`. If you hosted it at a different URL, pass that URL as `keyLocation` to the verify and submit endpoints.

**Can I submit URLs for a site I do not own?**

No. Every submission checks the key file on the host first, so only someone who can place a file on the site can submit its URLs.

## Contact Us

If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach out to us through the embedded chat on the bottom right corner of the page or send an email to hello@magicapi.com.


IndexNow API that submits your URLs or sitemap to Bing, Yandex, Seznam, Naver and Yep in one call and returns a submission status for each engine.

IndexNow API: Submit URLs and Sitemaps to Bing and Yandex