How it works
Search Console reports how Google discovers, indexes and presents a verified website. Its reports answer different questions: sitemap processing is not the same as page indexing, and a performance report counts search visibility rather than all website visits. Data can be delayed and is limited to the selected property.
A realistic example
A glossary sitemap can be processed successfully while some listed URLs remain unindexed. Inspect a representative URL to compare submitted canonical, Google-selected canonical and crawling information. A changed inventory needs time to be processed; do not infer an immediate defect solely from a stale count.
What to check
Confirm the correct property, protocol and domain scope. Read detailed sitemap and indexing messages, compare dates, and inspect actual live responses. Review queries and pages together so that an apparent traffic change is not merely a different filter.
Limits and next steps
The tool does not guarantee indexing or ranking. Requesting indexing is not a substitute for fixing incomplete content or contradictory directives. Never treat unavailable account data as measured evidence; public checks and account reports should be identified separately.