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Google & SEO

What is a meta title?

People often use “meta title”, “SEO title” and “page title” to mean the HTML <code>&lt;title&gt;</code> element for a page.

What does the title do?

The title helps describe the subject of the page to browsers and search engines. A clear, specific title can also influence the title link Google chooses to show in search results.

A simple example

For a genuine boiler-repair page, a sensible title might be Boiler Repairs in Swansea | Smith Heating. The goal is to describe the page clearly, not to cram every service and town into one line.

Will Google always show that exact title?

No. Google generates title links automatically using several sources, including the <title>, visible headings and other page content. It may show different wording if its systems believe another representation better describes the result.

What makes a useful title?

Keep it descriptive, concise and specific to the page. Avoid repetitive keyword lists or using the same generic title across the whole site.

Official Google resource

Google provides current guidance on this topic. Use the official documentation as the authoritative reference if its products or search guidance change.

Read Google's guidance on title links ↗

Last updated: 9 September 2026