> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.storefront.co.za/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.storefront.co.za/release-notes/enhancements/2026-enhancements/february-2026-enhancements/more-reliable-sitemaps-and-url-handling-fewer-404s.md).

# More Reliable Sitemaps and URL Handling (Fewer 404s)

When sitemap URLs had a trailing slash (for example `/category/` instead of `/category`), this could cause **404 errors** for some pages.\
The sitemap and URL handling has been reworked to:

* Improve the **sitemap manager** functionality.
* Rework the **rewrite middleware** and **sitemap middleware** so URLs are handled more consistently.

**Benefits for you**

* Fewer broken links and **404 errors** from sitemap URLs.
* More reliable crawling by **Google and other search engines**, helping SEO.
* Better customer experience when following links from search results or other sitemap‑based tools.


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