Featured Snippet
A selected search result displayed in a box at the top of Google results that directly answers the search query, extracted from a ranking page. Also called "position zero".
Also known as: Position zero, Answer box, Direct answer
What is a featured snippet?
A featured snippet is a highlighted excerpt from a web page that appears in a box at the top of Google search results, above the first organic ranking. It is Google's attempt to answer the user's query directly on the results page without requiring a click. Featured snippets are extracted algorithmically from pages that already rank in the top 10 for the query. You cannot directly apply to have a featured snippet; you earn one by ranking well and structuring content in a format Google can extract.
Types of featured snippets
- Paragraph snippets: A short block of text extracted from a page that directly answers a how or why question.
- List snippets: Numbered or bulleted lists extracted from pages with step-by-step instructions or ranked items.
- Table snippets: Data tables extracted from pages with comparative or structured data.
- Video snippets: A YouTube video identified as the best answer, sometimes with a highlighted timestamp.
Featured snippets vs AI Overviews
Featured snippets and AI Overviews are different features. A featured snippet extracts a passage from a single page. An AI Overview synthesises information from multiple pages into a new generated answer. When an AI Overview appears, the featured snippet is often not shown, or shown below the AI Overview. Both features appear on informational queries, but their triggers and content differ. A strategy for one does not guarantee success with the other.
How to optimise for featured snippets
- Identify informational query keywords that already show featured snippets in results.
- Structure the answer directly and concisely in a paragraph, list, or table matching the current snippet format.
- Place the answer in the content near a heading that closely matches the query.
- Use clear HTML formatting: proper heading hierarchy, ordered/unordered lists, and tables where appropriate.
- Ensure the page already ranks in the top 10 for the target query, as snippets are drawn from ranking pages.
FAQ
Common Questions
It depends on the query. For queries without AI Overviews, featured snippets significantly increase click-through rates. For queries with AI Overviews, the featured snippet may appear below the AI Overview with reduced visibility. In general, being in a featured snippet is better than not being in one.
Yes. Adding a nosnippet meta tag to a page prevents Google from extracting snippets from it. This also prevents the page from appearing in AI Overviews and other snippet features.
Paragraph snippets are typically 40 to 60 words. List snippets can vary. The goal is to answer the question directly and completely in the shortest reasonable space. Google tends to extract the most concise, complete answer it can find.
Glossary