What a meta description is
A meta description is the short summary in a page's HTML, written in the HTML meta description tag. Search engines often show it under the title in results. It is not a direct ranking factor, but a clear one can help people decide to click. Search engines may replace it with text taken from the page when they think it matches the query better.
Length: what to aim for
Search results truncate by pixel width, not character count, so there is no exact limit. The tool aims for 120 to 155 characters for descriptions and 60 or fewer for titles, which usually display in full on desktop and shorten on mobile. Put the key point first.
Article, Product or Page?
| Mode | Title focus | Description focus |
|---|---|---|
| Article | Primary keyword first, promises what the reader learns | Answers the search intent and invites the click |
| Product | Product name plus a key attribute (model, size, material) | Main benefit, variant or price facts if given, and a call to action |
| Page | What the page offers, and for whom or where | What the visitor gets and why to click |
How to write a strong one
- Lead with the answer or the benefit.
- Use the primary keyword once, naturally.
- Match the page: do not promise what is not there.
- Make every page's description unique.
- Add a reason to click, such as a sample, a price or a deadline, only if it is true.
Check before you publish
- Is it accurate for the page content?
- Is the length right? Check with the Character Counter.
- Is it different from other pages on your site?
- Would you click it?
If you also need a page title or an article headline, try the Headline Generator.
Limits
The tool cannot read your page, check your rankings or know what your competitors show. It writes from the three fields you give it. It does not guarantee a click-through rate, and search engines can still show a different snippet.