What is a featured snippet?
A featured snippet is a highlighted box near the top of Google's search results that shows a direct answer pulled from a web page, along with the page's title and link. It can take the form of a paragraph, list, or table.
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How featured snippets work
Google chooses the snippet automatically from pages already ranking for the search. The page's own content is quoted, and the result links back to it.
Snippets commonly answer questions, give steps, or compare items, so they appear most often for searches phrased as questions.
How to earn one
Answer a specific question clearly and briefly near the top of the page, then expand on it. Use headings that match the question, and use lists or tables when the answer is a set of steps or items.
There is no markup that guarantees a snippet. Strong rankings for the topic and a clear, well-structured answer give you the best chance.
Common questions
What is the difference between a featured snippet and a rich result?
A featured snippet quotes an answer from a page. A rich result adds extra visual details, such as ratings or images, to a normal listing, usually powered by structured data.
Can I add schema markup to get a featured snippet?
No. Google selects featured snippets from page content, and there is no markup that forces one. Schema can help search engines understand your page, though.
Do featured snippets increase traffic?
They can raise visibility, but a searcher may get what they need without clicking. Results vary by query, so track clicks for the pages involved.
Can I opt out of featured snippets?
Yes. Site owners can limit how much of a page is shown using robots meta tag controls such as nosnippet, though that may reduce visibility.
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