Posted on Sep 23

Understanding Titles and Descriptions in Google Search Results

When you search on Google, the result you see is made up of a few important parts. As a site owner or developer, you can influence how your page appears, but Google ultimately decides what to display. Understanding this helps you write better titles and descriptions that attract clicks.

The Title You See

The most visible part of a search result is the blue clickable title. Google usually takes this from your HTML <title> tag, but it does not always follow your exact wording. If your title is too long, Google will cut it off with three dots at the end.

A good rule is to keep your title around 50 to 60 characters. That way, it has a higher chance of showing in full. For example:

Too long: “Learn How to Build an End to End Web Application with React, Node.js, MongoDB, and Tailwind CSS”
Better: “Build a Web App with React and Node.js”

Google may also rewrite your title using headings (<h1> or <h2>), or even anchor text from other pages if it thinks those are more useful for the searcher.

The Description Under the Title

Beneath the title, you will see a short paragraph. This usually comes from your page’s meta description tag, but Google can also pick text directly from your content if it feels that snippet is more relevant.

Just like titles, descriptions can be cut off if they are too long. Aim for about 150 to 160 characters, enough to give a clear summary without losing important words.

Why It Matters

Your title and description act like an ad for your page. They are the first things people see before deciding whether to click. If the title is confusing or gets cut off awkwardly, users may scroll past it. If the description is unclear, they may choose another result.

Practical Tips

Write a clear and short title for every page.
Include the main keyword naturally near the beginning.
Use your <h1> heading to match or closely support your title.
Add a concise meta description that highlights the value of the page.
Check how your pages look in Google by searching for them directly.

Closing Thoughts

Google wants to help users find the most useful results quickly. By keeping your titles short, aligning them with your headings, and writing helpful descriptions, you make it easier for Google to display your content in the best light.

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