SEO & Search
What is a meta title?
A meta title (or title tag) is the page title defined in a page’s HTML. Search engines use it, sometimes rewritten, as the clickable headline in results, and browsers show it in the tab. It is distinct from the H1, the visible headline on the page itself, though the two should normally agree. A clear, specific title helps both ranking systems and readers understand what the page offers.
Meta title vs H1
The meta title lives in the page’s HTML head and shows in search results and browser tabs; the H1 is the visible headline on the page. They should agree in substance, a searcher clicking one expects to land on the other, but need not match word for word. The title tag is written for the results page: specific, honest about the content, and compelling within roughly the width search engines display before truncating.
Why it matters
The title is a strong signal of what a page is about, and it is also your listing’s headline, the biggest single influence on whether a searcher chooses your result. Google rewrites titles it considers unhelpful, but a clear, accurate title is usually shown as written. Vague titles (“Home”, “Services”) waste the clearest on-page signal a site has.
Related terms
The title works alongside the meta description on the SERP, and its pulling power is read through click-through rate.