Glossary

What is a featured snippet?

Also known as answer box, position zero

Definition

A featured snippet is a Google search result that shows a short extract from a web page first, above or among the normal results. It answers the query directly before the page title and link.

Key points

A featured snippet shows a short extract from a page before its title and link.
You cannot mark a page as a featured snippet, Google's systems choose it.
The habits that win snippets, such as clear questions and direct answers, also help in AI answers.

What does it mean in practice?

Search how to bleed a radiator and Google may show a short list of steps from a plumbing firm's guide, with the link underneath. Google describes this as reversing the usual format, with the descriptive snippet shown first.

You cannot mark a page as a featured snippet. Google's systems choose which page to show. Pages that answer the question in a tidy paragraph, list or table, right under a clear heading, tend to be picked more often. You can opt out with the nosnippet rule if you need to.

Why does it matter for AI search?

The habits that win featured snippets also help with AI answers. Ask a clear question, give a direct answer in the first sentence, then add detail. AI Overviews and other engines lift passages in a similar way.

Featured snippets are also a useful signal. If Google trusts your page to answer a question in a snippet, it may be a good candidate for AI answers on the same topic.

Rank tracking in Axiom GEO lets you filter keywords by SERP features, including featured snippets and AI Overviews. Our guide to FAQ content for AI search shows how to write answers that are easy to lift.

These terms connect to featured snippets.

People Also Ask, the related questions box in Google.
Answer engine optimisation, the practice of writing liftable answers.
AI Overviews, Google's AI summaries at the top of results.
Zero-click search, when the answer is given without a visit.

Common questions

How do I get a featured snippet?

You cannot request one. Google's systems choose the page. Pages that rank well for the query and answer it in a tidy paragraph, list or table, right under a clear heading, tend to be picked more often. Keep the answer short and put detail after it.

Can I stop my page showing as a featured snippet?

Yes. Google says the nosnippet rule blocks all snippets, including featured ones. Setting a lower max-snippet value makes a featured snippet less likely but does not guarantee it. Blocking snippets also affects how the page appears in normal results.

Reviewed 26 September 2026

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