META Distribution Tag - local/IU 1

[Itshim]

Can someone explain to me the difference between local and IU (internal use)?

I have found many descriptions on the net but no one seems to explain the difference.

Thanks,
Itshim

 

[MikeBarone]

The way I understand it the tags are used to help identify the reach of your page. For example, if I had a page I wanted everyone to see I would specify the global tag. If i had a page that pertains to a specific area (e.g. city, or state) then I would specify local. If the page only has data pertinent to a very specific audience (e.g. your department at work or a few of your friends) then use IU.

I do not know if this is a tag picked up by the search engines or not. But if it is being picked up by search engines I would assume they ignore pages specified using local or IU. Just my opinion.

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators

 

[MikeBarone]

Local may also be for Local Area Network (LAN) as well, not exactly sure. Because local is relative it makes me think it might be for LAN.

Note:
I have seen code for many thousands of web pages and I have never seen this tag used.

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators

 

[ChrisHirst]

in what context are you asking?
I am assuming search engines BTW.

Most meta tags have been created for a specific purpose and have no meaningless outside that, but many seem to have gained common popularity with no use or value whatsoever.

The distribution meta will have been originally for some document distribution system probably in some academic institution, where global will have meant for public view, local would be institution wide and internal would be department only.


Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

http://www.candsdesign.co.uk

A website that proves the cobblers kids adage.

http://www.cram-system.com

Nightclub counting systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[ChrisHirst]

I should preview first

you choose;

and have no meaning outside
or
and are meaningless outside




Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

http://www.candsdesign.co.uk

A website that proves the cobblers kids adage.

http://www.cram-system.com

Nightclub counting systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[Itshim]

I have read where "local" means LAN, but I have also seen other websites which state "local" pertains to location (city, state...).

Everyone also says that this meta tag is optional, and should actually be replaced by robots.txt. I was just trying to write a tutorial on meta tags and ran into this confusing tag.

Thanks,
Itshim

 

[ChrisHirst]

Basically it's guess work, It is only of any meaning if the tag is read specifically and no Internet search engines do actually use the distribution, as they are global so the definitions of Global, Local and Internal are meaningless. If you were running an internal search system for a WAN/LAN then it becomes of use to your system only.
But if you are managing such a system you can define your own tags, VW.96 and revist-after are two examples defined and used only by Vancouver-Webpages for their own local (Vancouver) site search engine.

for Internet SEs only 2 meta tags mean anything. Keywords and Description. Some engines may make use of the Language meta but it's not a known or proven fact.

The other use is in the robots meta exclusion protocols for the few that actually recognise and follow the protocol anyway.




Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

http://www.candsdesign.co.uk

A website that proves the cobblers kids adage.

http://www.cram-system.com

Nightclub counting systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[Itshim]

Thank you for all the information.

Itshim