Featured Snippet

A featured snippet is a highlighted box above or near the top of organic results that quotes a direct answer taken from a web page. It may appear as a paragraph, numbered list, bulleted list or table, always with a link to the source.

Why it matters

Being the quoted source gives visibility and trust. However, the answer can also satisfy the searcher without a click, so the benefit depends on whether the query needs more detail than the snippet offers.

Example

For "how long does DNS propagation take", a page might include a clear definition near a relevant heading:

<h2>How long does DNS propagation take?</h2>
<p>Usually minutes to a few hours, but it can take up to the
record's previous TTL, often 24 to 48 hours.</p>

Concise, direct answers under a matching question heading give a page a better chance, though selection is never guaranteed.

Common mistakes

• Burying the answer deep in long paragraphs.
• Expecting structured data alone to trigger one; snippets come from page text.
• Copying another page's wording instead of writing an original answer.

Related

• SERP
• Rich results
• Search intent
• CTR

This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.