SEO and content glossary
The essential SEO terms explained clearly and directly. Start with the definition and go deeper with examples, data and best practices.
SERP
SERP is short for Search Engine Results Page, the results page that Google and other search engines display after a query. It brings together organic results, ads and features such as featured snippets, People Also Ask and, increasingly, AI generated answers (AI Overviews) about the searched term.
Search intent
Search intent is the real goal behind a Google query: what the person wants to solve, learn or buy when typing that search. It splits into four main types (informational, navigational, commercial and transactional) and defines which content format has a chance to rank for each keyword.
Featured snippet
A featured snippet is the answer box Google displays at the top of the results page, above the first organic link, which is why it is nicknamed position zero. It pulls a passage from a page that already ranks well and highlights the answer as a paragraph, list, or table, solving the search right there, often without a click.
Meta description
A meta description is the page summary shown on the SERP.
Title tag
The title tag is the HTML element that sets a page's title and appears as the clickable blue link in Google's search results. It sits inside the tag, tells search engines what the page is about, and directly influences CTR. It's one of the most visible and important on-page SEO signals.