What is a featured snippet?
Definition
A featured snippet is a special Google search result that shows a short excerpt from a page first, above the link, to answer the searcher's question directly.
Why it matters
Featured snippets sit at the top of results and often feed voice answers, so they bring visibility to the page they quote.
How to do it
- Google's systems decide which page to show. Site owners can't mark a page as a featured snippet.
- Pages that answer a question clearly, right under a matching heading, are easier to quote.
- To opt out, use the nosnippet rule. A low max-snippet value makes it less likely.
Example
A search for “engagement rate formula” shows a box quoting a page's one-line formula, with the link underneath.
Featured snippet vs. AI Overview
A featured snippet quotes one page. An AI Overview writes a summary and links several supporting pages.
FAQ
Is there markup for featured snippets?
No. Google chooses them from page content. Clear structure helps more than markup.