A meta description is an HTML <meta> tag that provides a brief summary of a webpage's content. It appears below the title in search engine results and social media previews. While Google states meta descriptions are not a direct ranking factor, a well-crafted description significantly improves click-through rates.
HTML Syntax
<meta name="description" content="Learn what an SSL certificate is, how HTTPS encryption works, and why every website needs one." />Best Practices
- Length — 150–160 characters (Google truncates longer descriptions).
- Include the target keyword — Google bolds matching terms in the snippet.
- Unique per page — Never duplicate descriptions across pages.
- Write like ad copy — Explain the value and include a call to action.
- Avoid truncation — Put the most important information in the first 120 characters.
Google May Override It
Google often generates its own snippet from page content when it believes this better matches the user's query. Having a good meta description still matters for the cases when Google does use it.