# Title tag

Category: [On-Page & Content](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/on-page-content/) › [Titles, meta tags & snippets](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/on-page-content/titles-meta-snippets/) · Also known as: page title, meta title, SEO title, title element

A **title tag** is the HTML `<title>` element inside a page's `<head>`. It sets the page title shown in the browser tab, and Google usually uses it as the title link in search results. SEOs often call it the meta title or SEO title, although it is a separate element and not a meta tag.

## Why does the title tag matter for SEO?

The title link, the clickable headline of a search result, is usually generated from the page title. The title also tells search engines what the page is about.

Google does not always show the title tag unchanged. According to its documentation, Google draws on several sources to create a title link, including the `<title>` element, the main visual title or `<h1>` heading, `og:title` meta tags, anchor text of links pointing to the page, and WebSite structured data. Google replaces a title when it is missing or empty, outdated, inaccurate, repeated as boilerplate across many pages, or written in a different language than the page content.

There is no official character limit. Google says `<title>` elements are not limited in length, but title links are truncated in search results as needed, usually to fit the device width. MDN recommends staying under roughly 55–60 characters for the same reason. Rules like "60 characters max" refer to that truncation, not to a Google requirement.

The title also matters for accessibility. Screen readers announce it when a page opens, so MDN recommends putting the page's main purpose first and the site name after it.

## Example

```html
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <title>Women's Hiking Boots | Example Store</title>
</head>
```

The title describes the page content and ends with the site name. Google suggests separating the site name with a delimiter and using it consistently.

## Common mistakes

- **Same title on many pages**, such as "Home" or just the store name. Google lists repeated boilerplate as a reason for rewriting titles.
- **Keyword lists.** Google advises against titles that string search terms together, and MDN warns against "keyword blobs" as well.
- **Outdated details** such as a past year or prices that change often.
- **More than one `<title>` element**, often added by plugins or templates. MDN allows only one per document.

## FAQ

**Is the title tag a meta tag?**
Technically no. It sits in the `<head>` like meta tags but is its own element. In everyday SEO language, title and meta description are still often grouped as "meta data".

**How long should a title tag be?**
Long enough to describe the page clearly. Google truncates long title links in search results but names no character limit.

**Why does Google show a different title?**
Google builds the title link from several sources and departs from the `<title>` when it is missing, inaccurate, or unhelpful for the searcher.

**What is the difference between a title tag and an H1?**
The title appears in the browser tab and usually in search results. The H1 is the visible main heading on the page. Both can be similar, and Google may use the H1 as a source for the title link.

## At a glance

- **Type:** HTML <title> element in the <head>
- **In search results:** usually the basis of the title link
- **Length:** no limit per Google, the title link is truncated as needed
- **Per page:** [exactly one <title> element](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/title)
- **Docs:** [Google: Influencing your title links in search results](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link)

Last checked: October 8, 2026

*Schematic illustration: Snippet (search result).*

## Related terms

- [Title rewrite](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/title-rewrite/index.md)
- [Title links](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/title-links/index.md)
- [Meta description](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/meta-description/index.md)
- [Meta robots tag](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/meta-robots-tag/index.md)

## Sources

- [Influencing your title links in search results – Google Search Central](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link)
- [<title>: The Document Title element – MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/title)

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Last updated: October 8, 2026
URL: https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/title-tag/