What does the <title> tag do inside <head>?
The <title> tag inside <head> sets the HTML page's title, a short text that is shown:
- in the browser tab,
- in search results (SEO snippets),
- when bookmarking the page,
- and in browser messages (for example, when hovering over the tab).
1. Main purpose
<title> describes what the page is about.
It helps the user navigate, and helps search engines - index the site correctly.
Example:
<head>
<title>Online store of sports apparel</title>
</head>Result:
- On the tab: Online store of sports apparel
- In Google: this text will be the search result's title.
2. Requirements for the <title> tag
- Required in every HTML document.
- Can contain only text, without other tags or HTML entities.
- Recommended length - 50-60 characters (so it displays correctly in search).
Incorrect:
<title><b>Home</b></title> <!-- Tags inside are not allowed -->3. Impact on SEO
Search engines use <title> as the main signal about the page's content.
A well-written title increases:
- click-through rate (CTR) in search results,
- the page's relevance to the query,
- and brand recognition.
Example of a good SEO tag:
<title>Buy Nike sneakers: prices, deals, nationwide delivery</title>4. Use on social networks
If special meta tags (og:title) are not set, social networks also take the link's title from <title> when it is shared.
Summary:
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Inside <head> |
| Content | Text only |
| Purpose | Page title for the tab, search, and bookmarks |
| Required | Yes |
| SEO value | Very high |
In simple terms:
<title> is the page's official name.
The user sees it on the browser tab, and the search engine, in the search results.
Without it, the page is like a document with no title.
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