A meta description is a short snippet of HTML code that summarizes the content of a web page. It appears directly below the page title and URL in search engine results pages (SERPs). Think of it as a brief digital billboard or an elevator pitch designed to convince users to click on your link instead of a competitor’s. Core Technical Facts
HTML Code Structure: It lives in the section of your website’s code. A standard tag looks like this:
Optimal Length: Keep your descriptions between 120 to 160 characters. If it is too long, Google will truncate the text with an ellipsis (…) in the search results.
Google Rewrites: According to SEO data shared by Neil Patel, Google actually overwrites or ignores your custom meta description roughly 70% of the time. Google may dynamically pull visible text from your page if it matches a user’s specific query better than your written tag. The Paradox: Rankings vs. Clicks How to Write Meta Descriptions | Google Search Central