What is the name of the computer algorithm that visits websites, follows links, and copies pages for processing by search engines?

The term used to describe the computer algorithm that visits websites, follows links, and copies pages for processing by search engines is commonly known as a web crawler. Web crawlers, also referred to as spiders or bots, systematically browse the internet to index content for search engines.

These algorithms play a crucial role in how search engines like Google understand the web. They begin at a list of known URLs and follow hyperlinks on those pages to discover new content. This process helps build a comprehensive index of information, enabling users to retrieve relevant search results.

While "spiderbot" might sound similar and can describe a particular type of web crawler, the broader and more widely accepted term is "web crawler." The other options offered, such as "search engine bot" and "link follower," do not specifically encapsulate the standard term used across the industry. "Search engine bot" can refer to similar tools but does not accurately represent the dedicated function of indexing and retrieving information like a web crawler does, while "link follower" describes only a part of what a crawler does without encompassing its full indexing capabilities.