| name | meta-description |
| description | Use when auditing page metadata or generating descriptions for new pages. Applies to every page that should receive organic search traffic. |
| metadata | {"category":"seo","priority":"high","difficulty":"beginner","estimatedTime":"10","source":"frontendchecklist.io","url":"https://frontendchecklist.io/en/rules/seo/meta-description"} |
Write a meta description for each page
A compelling meta description acts as organic ad copy in search results—well-written descriptions improve click-through rates even though they are not a direct ranking signal.
Quick Reference
- Every page should have a unique meta description between 120–160 characters
- Meta descriptions are not a ranking factor but strongly influence click-through rates
- Write descriptions as a call to action that summarises the page value
- Google may override your description with content from the page
Check
Check the for a tag. Verify it is present, unique, and between 120 and 160 characters. Flag pages where it is missing, duplicated, or outside the recommended length.
Fix
Add or update the tag in . Write a unique summary of 120–160 characters that accurately describes the page content and includes a natural call to action or value proposition.
Explain
The meta description appears as the short paragraph below the title in search results. Although not a ranking factor, a compelling description improves click-through rate, which can indirectly benefit rankings.
Code Review
Check the for element. Verify: (1) the element exists, (2) content attribute is non-empty, (3) length is between 70 and 160 characters, (4) no HTML tags inside content, (5) the description is unique (not the same as other pages).
For full implementation details, code examples, and framework-specific guidance,
see references/rule.md.
Rule page: https://frontendchecklist.io/en/rules/seo/meta-description
