Glossary
Meta description
A meta description is a short summary of a page in its HTML head. Search engines often show it under the title in the results.
It is not a ranking factor. Its job is to persuade: it is the text you offer the searcher, and a clear one can decide whether your result is opened.
Google may show a different snippet when it thinks another part of the page fits the search better, so you do not control the text. You do control what is on offer. One or two plain sentences about what the page gives the reader work best.
Guides that use it
Where it comes up
Where Lastmod checks for it
Related terms
See it on your own site
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