What an RSS feed does
An RSS feed turns a changing publication into structured updates. A reader, directory, or automation retrieves the feed, recognizes entries it has already seen, and presents the new material. The publisher maintains the original pages; the feed provides a portable delivery layer.
The strongest feeds are intentionally boring. They use permanent URLs, honest dates, stable IDs, valid markup, and content that remains understandable outside the site design. Those choices prevent duplicate items and make migrations safer.
Choose a format for the audience
RSS 2.0 is broadly recognized and central to podcasting. Atom provides a precise model for identity, dates, content, and links. JSON Feed expresses similar ideas in JSON. Compatibility and maintenance matter more than syntax preference.
A small publication usually needs one excellent feed. A developer platform can offer more than one when every representation is generated from the same canonical content model. The RSS vs. Atom vs. JSON Feed guide provides a decision matrix.
Build and expose the endpoint
Generate the feed during the normal publishing build, advertise it with HTML autodiscovery, and include a visible link. Validate after template changes and test in real readers. Preserve publication dates and identifiers across rebuilds.
The complete feed creation guide covers fields, full content versus excerpts, validation, HTTP behavior, media, and automated checks.
Maintain the feed as public infrastructure
Monitor the public URL, keep redirects in place after a migration, and prevent drafts or staging hosts from entering production output. Use conditional HTTP responses when available and keep item content reasonably sized. A feed can serve readers for years when its location and identity remain stable.
