What is a meta description?

A meta description is an HTML attribute that provides a short summary of a webpage shown under the page title in search results. While it is not a direct ranking factor, a compelling meta description significantly influences click-through rate. Quick facts - Ideal length: 150-160 characters — longer descriptions get cut off in search results - Not a direct Google ranking factor, but directly affects click-through rate - Google sometimes rewrites meta descriptions — but providing a good one improves your odds - Every important page should have a unique, specific meta description Related terms: On-page SEO · Click-through rate · SERP · Title tag · Search intent How does a meta description work? You add a meta description in your page's SEO settings (in Wix: Page SEO → Description). Google reads it and may show it under your page title in search results. A strong meta description acts like ad copy — it tells searchers exactly what they will get if they click, and gives them a reason to choose your result over the others on the page. FAQ Does Google always show my meta description? No. Google rewrites meta descriptions when it thinks another snippet from the page better matches the user's query. Providing a well-written description gives you the best chance of controlling your message. How long should a meta description be? 150-160 characters is the standard recommendation. Shorter is fine if the message is complete. Avoid going over 160 or the description will be truncated with "..." Should every page have a meta description? Yes. Every page that you want to rank should have a unique, specific meta description written for the search query it targets. Want a full review of your page-level SEO settings? Request your free SEO scan at we-optimizz.com/free-seo-scan.