{"id":8696,"date":"2026-11-01T09:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T02:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adtek.agency\/glossary\/meta-description\/"},"modified":"2026-11-01T09:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T02:43:10","slug":"meta-description","status":"publish","type":"mona_glossary","link":"https:\/\/adtek.agency\/en\/glossary\/meta-description\/","title":{"rendered":"Meta description"},"content":{"rendered":"

A meta description is the HTML tag <meta name=”description”> that summarizes a page in 1 to 2 sentences. Google sometimes uses it as the snippet below the title in search results, when it describes the page more accurately than the on-page content.<\/p>\n

What is a meta description?<\/h2>\n

A snippet is the description part of a search result. Google mostly generates snippets from the page content, choosing the part that best matches the query, so the same page can show different snippets for different searches. The meta description is used only when Google finds it describes the page better (Google Search Central, How to write meta descriptions, accessed November 2026<\/a>).<\/p>\n

There is no length limit on a meta description, but snippets are truncated to fit the device width. Put the main point first.<\/p>\n

The meta description is not a ranking factor. In 2009, Google wrote that it sometimes uses the description meta tag for snippets but does not use it in ranking (Google Search Central Blog, Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking, September 2009<\/a>). Its value lies in CTR<\/a>: a clear description gets the right people to click.<\/p>\n

Meta title vs. meta description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nMeta title (title tag)<\/th>\nMeta description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
HTML tag<\/td>\n<title><\/td>\n<meta name=”description”><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Where it shows<\/td>\nThe title link, the clickable headline of the result<\/td>\nThe snippet below it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Can Google rewrite it?<\/td>\nYes, Google looks at several sources such as the title element, the main visual title and headings<\/td>\nYes, most snippets come from page content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

For title elements, Google recommends a unique title per page that describes the content accurately and concisely, with no keyword stuffing and no long boilerplate repeated across pages. Put your brand name at the start or end, separated by a hyphen, colon or pipe (Google Search Central, Influencing your title links, accessed November 2026<\/a>).<\/p>\n

How to write a meta description<\/h2>\n

Following Google’s guidance:<\/p>\n