SEO glossary · F

Featured Snippet

What is a Featured Snippet?

A featured snippet is a highlighted answer that Google shows near the top of the search results, taken from one web page and linking to it. It appears mainly for questions, such as “what is”, “how to” and “why” searches.

  • Paragraph: a short definition or answer, often 40 to 60 words.
  • List: numbered steps or a bulleted list.
  • Table: data such as prices, rates or comparisons.
  • Video: a clip from a YouTube video, sometimes starting at the relevant moment.
  • Rank on the first page for the question first; the snippet is almost always taken from a top result.
  • Put the question in a heading and answer it directly in the next paragraph.
  • Use real HTML lists and tables for steps and comparisons.
  • Keep the answer short and self-contained, then go into detail below it.

For many questions Google now shows an AI Overview, an AI-written summary that cites several pages. The habits that win featured snippets, clear answers under clear headings, also help pages get cited there.

For a search such as “what is a canonical URL”, Google may show a short paragraph taken from a page that defines it in one clear sentence under a heading that repeats the question. The snippet links to that page.

Writing a snippet-ready answer

  • Start the section with the question as a heading.
  • Answer in one or two sentences of about 40 to 60 words, then expand.
  • Use a numbered list for steps and a table for comparisons.
  • Check the live results for the question to see which format Google shows, and match it.

No markup forces a snippet. Google chooses the text it shows, and the format can change. You can control what is shown with nosnippet, data-nosnippet and max-snippet directives, as Google documents. See answer box.

A snippet can bring visits, but a complete answer can also reduce clicks. Aim to give the answer and a reason to read on, such as detail, examples or tools. Track clicks and impressions in Search Console.

Rank well for the question, answer it directly under a clear heading and use lists and tables where they fit.

Can I remove my page from featured snippets?

Yes, with the nosnippet or max-snippet directives, which also limit regular snippets.

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