Metadescription

A metadescription, or meta description, is a brief summary of a web page's content that is embedded in the HTML head as a meta tag, commonly <meta name="description" content="...">. It is not visible on the page itself but is used by search engines to display a snippet in search results.

Purpose and role: It helps users decide whether the page is relevant, and it can influence click-through rates by providing a concise invitation to visit. A well-crafted description should accurately reflect the page content and avoid exaggerated claims.

Impact on search rankings: Meta descriptions are not a direct ranking factor in major search engines, but a compelling description can improve visibility and CTR. Search engines may instead generate snippets from the page content if the description is missing or unsuitable.

Best practices: Write unique descriptions for each page; keep them around 150–160 characters (though lengths vary by device); include the page's main keywords naturally without stuffing; ensure the description stands on its own as a complete sentence or phrase; avoid misleading or promotional language; do not duplicate descriptions across pages.

Implementation and maintenance: Place the tag in the head of the HTML document; monitor performance as part of on-page optimization; review descriptions during content updates to ensure ongoing accuracy and relevance.