SEO Glossary

Featured Snippet

A featured snippet is a highlighted search result — usually shown above the standard organic results — that displays a direct answer to a search query, pulled from a page Google judges to answer it best.

Featured snippets typically appear as a paragraph, a numbered or bulleted list, or a table, alongside a link to the source page. Google generates them automatically by selecting an existing, already-ranking page it judges best answers the query concisely — there's no separate submission process, and no way to directly request one. Because a featured snippet sits above the normal first-place organic result, ranking for one (sometimes informally called "position zero") can capture significant visibility and clicks, though it can occasionally also reduce clicks if the snippet fully answers the query without the searcher needing to visit the page at all.

Why it matters

Winning a featured snippet can meaningfully increase visibility for a query, even from a page that isn't in the very top organic position. Structuring content clearly — direct answers near the top, clean lists and tables where relevant — makes a page more likely to be selected, though there's no guaranteed way to win one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay to get a featured snippet?+

No. Featured snippets are generated automatically by Google’s algorithm from existing organic results — there’s no paid or manual submission process.

Does a featured snippet replace the normal listing for that page?+

No, a page holding the featured snippet position for a query typically also appears again in the normal organic results below it, effectively taking up two spots on the page.

How do I write content that’s more likely to be selected?+

Answer the likely question directly and concisely near the top of the relevant section, and use clear formatting — short paragraphs, numbered steps, or tables — for content that naturally fits that structure.

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