Metadata

Metadata is information that is entered into the metadata tags within the head section of an HTMLHypertext Markup Language (HTML): web pages are written in HTML, web browsers interpret HTML and render or display the end result document. The metadata tags allow you to enter a description of your page and key words associated with it. These are used by search engines and other computer applications to find and rank your website. Better metadata can affect how high your website rank is in search results, so it's worth spending time describing your site.

For example, if you were designing a website for a fitness club, the metadata would include words such as fitness, health, gym, aerobics. Take a look at the screenshot below, and note the metadata included in this page.

Screenshot of the metadata tags for a webpage about a fitness club