What is metadata and what is it used for?

The concept of metadata

The term meta-data refers to data about other data. This is information contained in files that explains the type of file in question. Common examples of metadata include file size, modification dates, who created the file, and more.

On a website, metadata is a collection of HTML elements that provide search engines with information about the nature of a page’s content. For example, metadata can be used to clarify a page’s title tag, define a meta description for it, describe for search engines what the images represent, etc.

The more metadata a website includes, the easier it is for search engines to understand when to display their content in search results. Metadata is therefore an essential SEO factor if used correctly.

Manually adding metadata to a website is not complicated, but it requires editing HTML files. If you use WordPress CMS, a host of SEO plugins offer you tools to easily add metadata to your articles and pages.

Updated on: 22/03/2023