Definition
A meta description is an HTML tag that summarizes a page in a sentence or two. Search engines may show it as the snippet under the page title in results, although they often rewrite snippets using text from the page instead. It is not visible on the page itself.
For example, Aarvi Skin's sunscreen page might use the meta description “Lightweight SPF 50 mineral sunscreen for oily and sensitive skin, with no white cast.” That summary helps a searcher decide whether to click and gives any system reading the page a quick, accurate description of it.
Why it matters
Meta descriptions rarely affect rankings directly, but they shape whether people click and offer machines a concise summary of the page. For AI visibility, a clear, factual description reinforces what the page is about, while vague or duplicated descriptions add little. Assistants do not publish whether they read the tag, so treat it as a small supporting signal rather than a main route to being cited.
What to do
- Write a unique, specific meta description for each important page.
- Describe what the page offers in plain, factual language that matches the content.
- Find missing and duplicated descriptions with a site crawler and fix key pages first.
Common questions
Do meta descriptions affect SEO rankings?
Google has said meta descriptions are not a direct ranking factor. They can still influence whether searchers click on a result, which affects traffic. Google often rewrites snippets based on the query, so a good description improves the odds it is shown but does not guarantee it.
How long should a meta description be?
There is no fixed limit, since search engines truncate snippets based on display width and device. Many teams aim for roughly one to two sentences. Put the most important information first, so the summary still makes sense if it is shortened in the results.