A featured snippet is the boxed answer Google pulls to the very top of the results, above the normal blue links.
Google lifts a few lines straight from a page it trusts and shows them as the answer. You do not pay for it, and it sits in the spot everyone sees first.
The simple version: It is Google answering the question for the searcher, using your words, with your link attached.
Why it counts
- Top spot. It sits above position one, so it grabs the most attention.
- Free traffic. No ads, no backlinks needed for the box itself, just a clear answer.
- AI overlap. The same tight answers that win snippets also get quoted by the AIs.
How to earn one
- Answer first. Give a useful direct answer, then the explanation it needs. There is no required 40–60 word format.
- Match the question. Use the exact phrasing people search for as a heading.
- Structure it. Lists, steps and small tables are easy for Google to lift.
More detail in Google's featured snippets documentation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a featured snippet?
Answer a specific question clearly and use an appropriate format, such as a paragraph, list, or table. Google selects featured snippets; no word count or markup guarantees one.
Do featured snippets get more clicks?
They sit above position one, so they grab attention, but the answer shows on the page itself. You win visibility and brand recall even when the searcher does not click through.
Can I opt out of featured snippets?
Use nosnippet to prevent snippets. A low max-snippet limit can reduce eligibility but is not a guaranteed opt-out. Decide based on your own visibility and traffic goals.