Featured Snippet
A highlighted search result that appears above organic listings, directly answering a user's query.
Definition
A featured snippet is a special search result format where Google extracts and displays content directly in search results to answer a query immediately. These appear in "position zero"—above traditional organic results—in formats including paragraphs, lists, tables, and videos.
Featured snippets are triggered primarily by question-based queries and "how to" searches. Google selects content that directly and concisely answers the query, often from pages ranking in the top 10 but not necessarily position one.
Why It Matters
Featured snippets capture significant click share by answering queries before users scroll. While some searches end at the snippet (zero-click searches), snippets from your site build brand authority and often increase overall traffic to snippet-winning pages.
Winning a featured snippet can leapfrog competitors who outrank you in traditional results, making snippet optimization valuable for competitive keywords.
Examples in Practice
A software company structures content with clear question-and-answer formatting, winning featured snippets for "how to" queries in their industry.
A financial site creates comparison tables that Google features as table snippets for "X vs Y" queries.
A healthcare provider's FAQ content earns paragraph snippets for symptom-related queries, driving significant traffic despite competing against major health sites.