# meta element CEFR C1 ยท Compound Source: https://englishreference.com/word/meta-element Updated: 2026-07-22 ## Definition a piece of code in a website's background that gives information about the page. It tells search engines and browsers things like the page description, keywords, or who wrote it. For teachers: an HTML tag placed within the head section of a document to provide structured metadata about the webpage. It conveys information such as character encoding, page descriptions, and indexing instructions to browsers and search engine crawlers. ## Examples - The developer added a meta element to improve the site's search ranking. - Every professional webpage should include a meta element for the viewport to ensure the site displays correctly on mobile devices. - While invisible to the end user, the meta element plays a critical role in search engine optimization by providing concise summaries that appear in search results. ## Usage notes - Usually appears within the section of an HTML document; often referred to simply as a 'meta tag' in casual technical contexts. --- From EnglishReference.com โ€” a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry โ€” quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer โ€” must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.