A featured snippet is a special box at the top of Google results that shows a page's answer first, with a link to the source. You cannot mark a page up to get one. Google's systems pick the page, so the way to earn one is a clear, direct answer placed under a question-style heading.
What is a featured snippet?
Google's featured snippets documentation describes them as "special boxes where the format of a regular search result is reversed": the descriptive text comes first and the title and link after it. They can also appear inside "People Also Ask" groups.
A featured snippet is different from the normal snippet under a blue link, and different from an AI Overview, which is a generated summary. All three pull from your page text, so the same habit of writing clear answers helps with each. We cover the AI side in how to appear in Google AI Overviews.
Can you mark up a page to get a featured snippet?
No. Google states plainly: "You can't." Its systems decide whether a page makes a good featured snippet for a given search, and then promote it. There is no schema type or tag that requests one. Anyone selling a trick for this is guessing.
What you can do is make your page easy to quote. That means putting the answer in plain text, where Google can lift it, and keeping the page otherwise strong enough to rank on the first page, because featured snippets come from pages Google already considers relevant.
How do you format a page to be quotable?
These habits cost nothing and do not depend on any trick.
- Use the question as a heading. Put it in an
<h2>and write it the way a person would type it. - Answer in the first sentence or two. Keep the direct answer short and self-contained, about 40 to 60 words, then explain below it.
- Match the answer to the shape of the question. A definition fits a paragraph. A "how to" fits a numbered list. A comparison fits a table.
- Define terms where you use them. A snippet is read out of context, so the answer should make sense on its own.
- Cover the follow-ups. A short FAQ section handles the related questions people also ask.
This is the same structure used for answer engine optimization, which is why one page can serve both Google's boxes and AI assistants.
Is it worth chasing featured snippets?
It depends on the query. For simple definition questions, the snippet may answer the person before they click, which is the pattern behind zero-click search. For "how to" and comparison queries, the snippet often shows only part of the answer, and a person who wants the rest has to click.
A sensible rule: aim for snippets on questions where your page offers more than the box can show, such as a full process, a worked example or a decision table. Do not rewrite a page just to win a snippet for a query that answers itself in one line.
How do you check whether you have one?
Search your target question in a private window and look at the top of the results. For several pages, track them in a spreadsheet: question, date checked, whether a snippet shows, and whose it is. If a competitor owns it, read their answer. Then check whether yours is clearer, shorter and placed higher on the page. You can use the same sheet to note where you appear in AI answers, as in how to track AI citations.
How do you opt out of featured snippets?
Google gives three controls. A nosnippet rule on a page stops both featured and regular snippets for it. A low max-snippet value may reduce them, but Google notes that it "doesn't guarantee" featured snippets will stop, so nosnippet is the only sure option. Text wrapped in the data-nosnippet attribute is kept out of snippets, and if a page has both, nosnippet takes priority. Be careful: these controls also remove your normal snippet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to rank first to get a featured snippet?
Google does not give a position requirement. The snippet comes from a page its systems judge a good answer, so a page that already ranks well on the first page is a more likely candidate.
Does FAQ schema create a featured snippet?
No. Google says you cannot mark up a page to get one. See whether FAQ schema is still worth adding for what it does do.
Is a featured snippet the same as an AI Overview?
No. A featured snippet quotes a page directly with a link. An AI Overview is a generated summary with links to sources.
Can I lose a featured snippet?
Yes. Google chooses it again as pages change, so a better answer from another site can replace yours.
Does a snippet cut my traffic?
It can on queries a short answer fully resolves, and help on queries where the reader wants more. Judge it per query using your own Search Console clicks.