Metadata

Metadata means “data about data”. On the web, metadata usually means “data about webpages”, such as what the page is called, and who it was created by.

Examples of metadata

• Title – every page should define a title, which is shown in browsers, search engines and social networks
• Description – a page can optionally define a short description, which is visible in Google and Facebook below the title
• Image – (more accurately, an OG image) a page can define an image to represent it when shared elsewhere, e.g. in a Facebook feed

A common false assumption is that metadata means meta tags. This is not the case. Many types of valuable metadata, such as titles, are marked up in different ways.

Why metadata matters

Metadata provides crucial data that helps third parties understand and present your webpages.

In particular, the effective use of metadata makes it more likely your pages will be presented effectively in search engines and social networks, and therefore be more likely to be visited.

Further reading

• Page title – Silktide
• Meta tags that Google understands – Google
• The Open Graph Protocol
• Complete list of meta tags – GitHub