On-Page SEO · Meta Tags

What Is a Title Tag in SEO?

Title tags and meta data shape how your pages appear in search. Here is what a title tag is, how to write titles and meta descriptions, what meta data is, and what open graph, meta robots and noindex tags do.

Updated: July 2026
Written by: Andrew Odgers, Managing Director
Reading time: 10 minutes
The short answer

A title tag is the HTML element setting a page's title, shown as the clickable headline in results. Write titles that are clear, unique, and around 50 to 60 characters. A meta description is the summary under the title; not a direct ranking factor but strongly affects click through rate. Meta data is code describing the page; an open graph tag controls social sharing appearance. Meta robots and noindex tags control whether a page is indexed.

The headline in search

What a title tag is, and how to write titles and descriptions

A title tag is the HTML element that sets a page's title, shown as the clickable headline in search results and in the browser tab, and it is an important on-page signal. Because it tells users and search engines what a page is about, a clear, relevant title tag is one of the most valuable on-page elements. You write good title tags by keeping them clear and descriptive, putting the main topic near the front, staying within roughly 50 to 60 characters, and making each one unique. Clarity beats keyword stuffing; because titles influence both understanding and clicks, writing them for real people while including the main term works best. A meta description is the short summary shown under the title in results, and it is not a direct ranking factor but strongly affects click through rate. It is your advert in the results; because a compelling description can earn more clicks, writing clear, relevant descriptions is worthwhile even though it does not rank a page directly, which ties into click through rate.

MT 01

Title tag

The search headline.

MT 02

Description

Drives clicks, not rank.

MT 03

Noindex

Keeps pages out.

Meta data, open graph, robots and noindex

Meta data, open graph tags, and meta robots and noindex

Meta data is information in a page's code that describes the page, including the title and description, while an open graph tag controls how a page looks when shared on social platforms. Both shape presentation; because they affect how a page appears in search and social, setting them deliberately improves how your pages are seen. A meta robots tag tells search engines how to treat a page, and a noindex tag specifically asks them not to include the page in the index. They control indexing at page level; because noindex reliably keeps a page out of results when used correctly, these tags are the right tool for pages you do not want indexed, working alongside your robots.txt file at the technical level.

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Frequently asked

Title tags and meta data

What is a title tag in SEO?
A title tag is the HTML element that sets a page's title, shown as the clickable headline in search results and in the browser tab. It is an important on-page signal. Because it tells users and search engines what a page is about, a clear, relevant title tag is one of the most valuable on-page elements.
How do you write good title tags?
You write good title tags by keeping them clear and descriptive, putting the main topic near the front, staying within roughly 50 to 60 characters, and making each one unique. Clarity beats keyword stuffing. Because titles influence both understanding and clicks, writing them for real people while including the main term works best.
What is a meta description and does it affect rankings?
A meta description is the short summary shown under the title in results, and it is not a direct ranking factor but strongly affects click through rate. It is your advert in the results. Because a compelling description can earn more clicks, writing clear, relevant descriptions is worthwhile even though it does not rank a page directly.
What is meta data and what is an open graph tag?
Meta data is information in a page's code that describes the page, including the title and description, while an open graph tag controls how a page looks when shared on social platforms. Both shape presentation. Because they affect how a page appears in search and social, setting them deliberately improves how your pages are seen.
What are meta robots and noindex tags?
A meta robots tag tells search engines how to treat a page, and a noindex tag specifically asks them not to include the page in the index. They control indexing at page level. Because noindex reliably keeps a page out of results when used correctly, these tags are the right tool for pages you do not want indexed.