Meta-tags are small pieces of code in HTML that give search engines and browsers information about a webpage. These tags are placed in the page's <head> section and are invisible to users, but they play a crucial role in how search engines index and present your page. Meta-tags help improve your page's SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and can also affect how your page appears in the search results.
Types of meta-tags
There are several different types of meta-tags, each with its own purpose:
- Meta Title (Titel-tag): This tag defines the page's title, which appears in the search results. A good title is concise, informative, and contains relevant keywords.
<title>Example of Meta Title</title> - Meta Description: This tag provides a short description of the page's content. Search engines often use this description as a snippet in the search results. A good meta description is engaging and contains relevant keywords.
<meta name="description" content="This is an example of a meta description describing the page's content."> - Meta Keywords: Previously this tag was important for SEO, but nowadays most search engines ignore it due to misuse. It can still be useful for internal search functions on some websites.
<meta name="keywords" content="example, meta tags, SEO"> - Robots Meta Tag: This tag instructs search engines on how to treat the page, for example whether to index the page and follow links.
<meta name="robots" content="index, follow"> - Viewport Meta Tag: This tag is important for responsive design, as it helps control how your page is displayed on different devices.
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
Why are meta-tags important?
Meta-tags are important because they provide search engines and browsers with critical information about your page. They can improve your page's visibility in the search results, increase click-through rate, and ensure that your page displays correctly on different devices. By using meta-tags correctly, you can optimize your page's SEO and offer a better user experience.