A legacy metadata field listing words associated with a page; Google Search does not use it for indexing or ranking.
The keywords meta tag can appear in a page’s HTML head even when visitors never see it. Some older content-management systems and SEO plugins still offer a box for it. Its presence in an interface does not mean filling it out helps Google Search.
Google’s 2009 explanation said it had already ignored this tag for years. It is therefore inaccurate to describe 2009 as the date Google first stopped using it. The statement also does not mean Google ignores every meta tag: descriptions and robots instructions have different purposes.
When reviewing a website, separate unused fields from meaningful controls. A blank meta-keywords field is not an indexing defect. A mistaken noindex instruction, on the other hand, can prevent a page from appearing. Similar-looking settings can have very different consequences.
Takeaway: Spend editing time on useful page content, accurate titles and valid indexing controls rather than keyword lists hidden in metadata.
Example
A business owner sees a warning that a page lacks meta keywords. Instead of adding fifty phrases, the team checks that the service explanation and search snippet accurately describe the offer.
What to check
Before removing a legacy field, confirm it is not used by an internal search or another application. Google’s treatment does not define every other system’s behavior.
For more detail, see Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking.