max-snippet is a robots rule that sets the maximum length of a text snippet in search results, counted in characters. It limits the preview without forbidding it.
Values and effect
Per Google’s documentation, max-snippet:[number] applies to the text snippet only, not to image or video previews. The value 0 is equivalent to nosnippet, and -1 lets Google choose the length. If no parseable number is given, Google ignores the rule.
At Google the limit applies to all forms of search results, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, and it also limits how much of the content may serve as direct input for them. It does not override cases where a publisher has separately granted permission, such as in-page structured data or a license agreement.
Bing added support for max-snippet in April 2020, according to the Bing Webmaster Blog, with values such as max-snippet:400.
| Rule | Where it's set | What it controls in Google Search | Effect on AI Overviews and AI Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
nosnippet | whole page (robots meta tag or X-Robots-Tag) | no text snippet or video preview; a static image thumbnail may still appear | content isn't used as direct input for AI Overviews and AI Mode |
max-snippet:[number] (this term) | whole page | caps the text snippet at that many characters; 0 equals nosnippet, -1 lets Google choose the length | limits how much content may be used as direct input for AI Overviews and AI Mode |
data-nosnippet | single text section (attribute on span, div or section) | the marked text isn't used in the snippet | listed by Google as a control for limiting content in AI features in Search |
max-image-preview:[none|standard|large] | whole page | maximum size of the image preview; without it, a default-size preview may be shown | Google only lists web search, Google Images, Discover and Assistant here, no AI features |
noimageindex | whole page | images on this page aren't indexed | no statement from Google |
unavailable_after: [date] | whole page | the page stops appearing in search results after that date; Googlebot then crawls the URL much less often | no separate statement from Google |
indexifembedded | whole page, only together with noindex | content may be indexed when embedded in another page through an iframe or similar tag | no statement from Google |
noindex (for comparison) | whole page | page doesn't appear in search results | listed by Google as a control for AI features; a link in AI Overviews or AI Mode requires an indexed page |
noarchive | whole page | no longer used by Google and ignored; the cached link it controlled no longer exists | none (Google ignores the rule) |
According to Google, a page can only be shown as a link in AI Overviews or AI Mode if it's indexed and eligible to be shown with a snippet. All rules only work if crawlers are allowed to fetch the page. When rules conflict, the more restrictive one applies. For AI training and grounding in some of Google's other systems, Google points to Google-Extended. Sources: Google Search Central: Robots meta tag, data-nosnippet, and X-Robots-Tag specifications (last updated 2026-03-24); Google Search Central: AI features and your website (last updated 2025-12-10). Last checked: .
Example
<meta name="robots" content="max-snippet:160">
Several rules go into one tag, separated by commas, for example max-snippet:160, max-image-preview:large. If max-snippet:50 and nosnippet are both present, nosnippet applies.
Sources
- Robots meta tag, data-nosnippet, and X-Robots-Tag specifications – Google Search Centraldevelopers.google.com
- Announcing new options for webmasters to control their snippets at Bing – Bing Webmaster Blog (04/2020)blogs.bing.com
- Bing introduces new ways for site owners to control their search snippets – Search Engine Journal (04/2020)searchenginejournal.com
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