Search & metadata
What is a meta description?
A meta description is a short page summary stored in HTML metadata that search engines may use in a result's descriptive text, although the displayed snippet can come from other page content.
By Plainview WebReviewed
The meaning
The description normally appears in a meta element in the document's head, with name="description" and the summary in its content attribute. Many website platforms provide a description field, so the owner can edit the words without editing HTML.
It describes the particular page rather than serving as its visible heading. A service page, an article, and a product page need different summaries because they answer different needs. Google often creates snippets from the page itself and may use the meta description when it provides a useful account of the content.
An example
Example: a fictional book-restoration page
<meta name="description"
content="Explore book-restoration services for worn hardbacks, see repair examples, and learn what to include in a project inquiry.">The fictional page contains the services, examples, and inquiry guidance named in this summary. The description gives a reader a specific reason to open it without inventing a turnaround time or promising that every damaged book can be repaired.
If those page sections change, review the description as part of the same edit. A summary should continue to match what someone finds after following the link.
When it matters
A clear description is an opportunity to explain a page's relevance before a visit. Draft it from the actual content: the subject, a useful distinction, and the next thing a reader can find or do. Avoid repeating a general business slogan across unrelated pages.
Plainview's Title & Meta Preview can help inspect a draft's presentation. Treat the preview as an editing aid. The final search result depends on the search engine, the query, and the available display space; a preview cannot establish the exact text that will appear.
A common confusion
A character target does not guarantee the snippet
Google does not set a fixed maximum length for the description itself, but it can shorten the displayed snippet to fit. A particular character count does not guarantee full display or use of the submitted wording. Prioritize an accurate, readable summary over filling every available character.