Search and keywords · Beginner

Featured snippet

A featured snippet is a highlighted answer taken from a single web page and shown near the top of Google's results. It was an early form of answer engine result and rewards the same clear, direct writing.

By Thryv StudioUpdated

Level
Beginner
Formats
Paragraph, list and table
Source
One page, with a link

A featured snippet is a box at the top of some Google results that quotes an answer from one page: a paragraph for definitions, a list for steps, or a table for comparisons. The source page is linked with its title and URL.

How pages win them

Google picks the passage it judges to answer the query best, usually from a page already ranking on the first page. Pages that phrase the question clearly and answer it immediately below are good candidates.

Best practices

  1. Use the question as a heading, then answer it in 40 to 60 words.
  2. For processes, use a numbered list with short steps.
  3. For comparisons, use a real HTML table.
  4. Keep the rest of the page thorough; the snippet is chosen from strong pages.

Frequently asked questions

How are featured snippets related to AI Overviews?

Both answer the query directly on the results page. The writing that wins snippets, direct and well structured, also helps pages get cited in AI answers.

Can I stop Google showing my page as a snippet?

Yes, with the nosnippet or max-snippet rules, but that also limits regular snippets.

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