Featured snippet
A highlighted answer box that appears at the top of Google search results.
What is Featured snippet?
A featured snippet is a special search result that appears in a box at the top of Google's organic results, providing a direct answer to the user's query. Featured snippets are extracted from web pages and include a link to the source.
Types include paragraph snippets (definitions), list snippets (steps, rankings), table snippets (data comparisons), and video snippets. Appearing in a featured snippet can dramatically increase visibility and traffic.
Why Featured snippet matters
Featured snippets appear above position 1, often called "position 0." They capture significant click-through rates and establish authority. They're also frequently used as sources for AI Overviews.
How to implement
Target question-based keywords
Provide clear, concise answers early in content
Use formatting that matches snippet types (lists, tables)
Structure content with clear headings
Keep answer paragraphs to 40-60 words
Include the question in a heading
Common mistakes to avoid
- Burying answers deep in content
- Not matching format to snippet type
- Overly long or complex answers
- Not targeting snippet-worthy queries
Examples
What is [term] - Paragraph snippet
How to [do something] - Numbered list snippet
[Product] vs [Product] - Table snippet
Frequently asked questions
No, pages ranking anywhere in the top 10 can earn featured snippets. Google selects based on answer quality, not just ranking.
Yes, using the max-snippet meta tag or data-nosnippet attribute. However, this usually reduces visibility rather than helping.