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Meta tags

keywords

Lists comma-separated keywords relevant to the page. HTML still defines the tag, but Google Search ignores it and many other search engines give it little or no weight.

Code examples

Good example
<meta name="keywords" content="HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web Development">
A valid set for a page when an internal tool is configured to read the tag.
Good example
<meta name="keywords" content="Chocolate Cake Recipe, Baking, Desserts">
Three relevant tokens in the format defined by HTML.
Avoid this example
<meta name="keywords" content="HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web Development, Web Design, Frontend, Backend, Programming, Coding, Tutorial, Learn, Course">
A broad list makes poor input for any tool that relies on the tag. Google ignores it either way.
Avoid this example
<meta name="keywords" content="">
An empty list gives consumers nothing to use and should be omitted.

Recommendations

  • 01
    Do Not Add It for Google
    Google Search does not use the keywords meta tag for indexing or ranking.
  • 02
    Use It Only for a Real Consumer
    A site search tool or content system may read this metadata. If yours does not, omit the tag.
  • 03
    Keep Tokens Relevant
    When a tool does consume the tag, use a short comma-separated set that actually describes the page.

Related documentation

Related meta tags

author

name

Names one author of the page. Add another author meta tag for each additional author.

<meta name="author" content="Jane Doe">
Names the author exactly as credited on the page.

charset

charset

Declares the character encoding used by the HTML document. In modern HTML, the value must be UTF-8.

<meta charset="utf-8">
The required character encoding for modern HTML.

description

name

Summarizes the page for directories and search engines. Google may use it as a search result snippet when it describes the page better than the visible content does.

<meta name="description" content="Bake 12 vanilla cupcakes in 35 minutes. Includes metric measurements, storage notes, and fixes for cakes that sink.">
Specific details tell the reader what the recipe covers.

google

name

Carries Google-specific page controls. Google currently documents nopagereadaloud for this metadata name.

<meta name="google" content="nopagereadaloud">
The documented Google-specific opt-out for page read-aloud services.

google-site-verification

name

Verifies ownership of a site in Google Search Console. Google provides the exact token to place on the site’s top-level page.

<meta name="google-site-verification" content="your_verification_code">
Replace this placeholder with the exact token issued by Search Console.