# Extract only matching sitemap URLs

**Use case:** 

Use include patterns to keep a subset of URLs from a site's XML sitemaps — for example protocol pages only. Filtered-out URLs are not charged. Capped at 500. $0.50 per 1,000 extracted URLs; failures and filtered URLs are free.

## Input

```json
{
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.sitemaps.org/"
  ],
  "discoverFromRobots": true,
  "tryCommonPaths": true,
  "includePatterns": [
    "https://www.sitemaps.org/protocol*"
  ],
  "maxUrls": 500,
  "maxSitemaps": 200,
  "maxConcurrency": 4,
  "requestTimeoutSecs": 30
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "url": {
    "label": "URL",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "lastmod": {
    "label": "Last modified",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "changefreq": {
    "label": "Change freq.",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "priority": {
    "label": "Priority",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "sourceSitemap": {
    "label": "Source sitemap",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "status": {
    "label": "Status",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "errorCode": {
    "label": "Error",
    "format": "string"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The Sitemap URL Extractor: Bulk XML Sitemap Parser Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Extract only matching sitemap URLs". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/yZM3ML32FJo3qVtlc) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Extract only matching sitemap URLs" task

The Sitemap URL Extractor: Bulk XML Sitemap Parser Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like website or sitemap urls, discover sitemaps from robots.txt, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Extract only matching sitemap URLs" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as URL, last modified, change freq., and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "Extract only matching sitemap URLs" task via API](https://apify.com/hillcountrybots/sitemap-url-extractor.md).

## FAQ

### What pattern syntax is supported?

Use * as a wildcard (https://example.com/blog/*) or a /regex/ in slashes. Patterns are compared against the full URL.

### Are excluded URLs charged?

No. URLs dropped by include or exclude filters are free and do not count toward maxUrls.

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [Sitemap URL Extractor: Bulk XML Sitemap Parser](https://apify.com/hillcountrybots/sitemap-url-extractor.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/hillcountrybots/sitemap-url-extractor.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/hillcountrybots/sitemap-url-extractor.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).