Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “What does <meta name="description"> do? Why does it matter for SEO?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)The **`<meta name="description">`** tag sets a short page description that is not shown on the site but is visible in search engines, as text below the result's title (the snippet). **Key point:** It does not directly affect rankings, but a well-written description increases CTR (clickability), and that in turn strengthens the page's rankings.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)ImageThe `<meta name="description">` tag is used to set a **short page description** that **is not shown on the site**, but is **visible in search engines**, as text below the result's title (the snippet). It helps search bots and users understand **what the page is about**, even before visiting it. --- ### 1. Example of the tag ```html <meta name="description" content="Online clothing store: new collections, free delivery, and discounts up to 50%."> ``` Here: - `name="description"`: tells the browser and search engine that this is a description; - `content="..."`: the text itself, up to ~160 characters long. --- ### 2. How it is displayed in search Search engines (Google, Bing, and others) often use this text for the snippet, a short page description under the link. Example: ```javascript Online clothing store: buy trendy items online Online clothing store: new collections, free delivery, and discounts up to 50%. site.com ``` Everything below the title is the content of `meta description`. --- ### 3. Why it matters for SEO #### 1. **Increases CTR (clickability)** Even if the search position is not the first one, a well-written description **can attract more clicks** than competitors. > This is the page's "mini-ad" in the results. Example of a good description: ```html <meta name="description" content="Order a laptop with delivery today. Model comparisons, reviews, and deals through the end of the week."> ``` Contains **keywords** ("laptop", "delivery"), a **call to action**, a **time limit**: everything that increases clickability. --- #### 2. **Helps the search engine understand the page's meaning** `<meta name="description">` does not directly affect rankings, but it: - improves the page's **relevance** to the query; - helps algorithms **build the snippet more accurately**; - reduces the risk that the search engine substitutes "random text" from the site. --- #### 3. **Increases user trust** When the description is: - clear, - well written, - reflective of the page's content, the person **clicks more often** and **stays on the site longer**. This is an indirect SEO factor (behavioral metrics). --- ### 4. Best practices for writing | Rule | Why | |---|---| | Length 140-160 characters | Longer gets truncated in results | | Each `description` is unique | Otherwise pages get duplicated | | Includes keywords | For relevance and highlighting in search | | Clear language and value | This is not a "technical" field, but an "advertising" one | | No quotes or HTML tags | Plain text only | Example of a good one: ```html <meta name="description" content="Relationship psychology: articles, quizzes, and tips on keeping love and trust alive."> ``` --- ### Summary: | Parameter | Value | |---|---| | Purpose | Short page description for search engines | | Attribute `name` | Specifies the data type (`description`) | | Attribute `content` | Contains the description text itself | | Optimal length | 140-160 characters | | SEO importance | Increases CTR and page relevance | --- **In simple terms:** `<meta name="description">` is the **page's advertising showcase in search**. It does not "boost" the site directly, but it **makes people click on it more often**, and that in turn strengthens rankings.For the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.