The descriptive text accompanying a search result, often generated from page content or a meta description.
A search snippet is the descriptive text accompanying an individual search result. It gives the searcher a preview of what the page contains. The snippet is separate from the clickable title link and from the full search results page around it.
Google primarily generates snippets from page content and may use the meta description when it is a better summary. Different queries can lead to different excerpts from the same page. A sentence appearing in one observed result is therefore not necessarily the fixed description everyone will see.
Review snippets for accuracy and context. An excerpt can expose outdated wording or an unclear sentence on the destination page. Instead of only rewriting metadata, check the section the excerpt seems to come from. Improving that section can help readers who arrive there as well as make the available source text clearer.
Takeaway: Use the observed snippet as a clue about how your page is being presented. Keep important explanations accurate in the body, because search engines may quote that text instead of your preferred summary.
Example
A rental company updates its delivery policy but leaves the previous restriction in a frequently asked questions section. An observed search snippet highlights that old sentence. The team should resolve the conflicting information on the page rather than assume a new meta description will reliably hide the outdated policy.
What to check
Keep the query and date with a snippet screenshot, and compare the destination’s current text before changing it. A search snippet is different from a featured snippet, which is a separate result presentation. Avoid treating plugin previews as confirmed live excerpts.
For more detail, see Control your snippets in search results.