What's the point of "CV available on request"? A certain fraction of personal websites of researchers has a hint along the lines of &quot;CV available on request.&quot; I always found that a bit odd. Are there any situations where a researcher would

Actively ask another researcher for their CV; and
Would be more inclined to do so because they have such a hint on their website?
Doing this does convey useful information: it signals that the individual has made a conscious decision not to post their CV online. If you come across this statement when looking for someone's CV you know not to waste more time searching. I think this is the real reason people do it, rather than any concern that people might otherwise not think to send an email.