Featured Snippet
Also known as: featured snippet, position zero, answer box
A featured snippet is a short answer that Google extracts from a web page and displays in a highlighted box at the top of the search results, above the regular blue links. It aims to answer a query directly, citing the source page's title and URL so users can click through for more.
- Featured snippets appear above the regular results, which is why they are nicknamed position zero.
- The three main formats are paragraph, list, and table snippets, chosen by Google based on the query.
- You cannot buy or directly opt into a snippet; Google selects it algorithmically from already-ranking pages.
How featured snippets work
When Google believes a query has a direct answer, it pulls a passage from a ranking page and shows it in a box at the top of the results. Common formats are the paragraph snippet (a 40-60 word definition or explanation), the list snippet (ordered steps or bulleted items), and the table snippet (rows of data). Google chooses the format based on the question.
A page does not opt in to a featured snippet, and it cannot be bought. Google selects the source algorithmically from pages that already rank well, usually within the top results, then quotes the passage it judges most relevant. The snippet shows the page title, URL, and the extracted text, and clicking any of these opens the source page.
Why they matter and how to win one
Because the snippet sits above the standard listings, it is often called position zero. It is also a major input for AI Overviews and voice assistants, which frequently read or cite the same answer Google has chosen, so winning the snippet extends a page's reach beyond the click.
To compete, answer the question concisely and early on the page, ideally in one tight paragraph near a clear heading that mirrors the query, and use structured data and clean headings so Google can parse the answer. There is no guarantee, since the snippet can change or disappear at any time, but well-structured, directly answered content is the most reliable path.
Featured snippets and reference content
Definitional pages, like the entries in Cleanor's /reference glossary, are strong featured-snippet candidates because each term opens with a tight, one-paragraph answer (a BLUF, or bottom line up front) directly under a 'what is X' heading. That format is exactly what Google's paragraph-snippet logic looks for.
The same structure feeds AI answer engines: a clear definition, a focused heading, and supporting detail below give both Google and assistants a clean passage to quote, which is why answer-first formatting is a core part of how reference and content pages earn citations.