Module 3: Document Structure and Metadata
Page Titles and Description Metadata
Write a useful page title and a concise description for visitors and search engines.
The page title is one of the most visible pieces of document metadata. It appears in the browser tab, bookmarks, browser history, and often as the clickable title in search results.
<head>
<title>HTML Forms: Labels and Validation | ServerSideStory</title>
<meta name="description"
content="Learn to build HTML forms with clear labels, useful input types, and browser validation.">
</head>
Write a title that identifies the page without making every page sound the same. Put the specific topic first when that helps readers scan tabs. Avoid keyword lists and vague titles such as “Home” or “Page 3”.
The description metadata is a short summary. Search engines may use it as the result snippet, but they can also select text from the page instead. It should describe the actual page, not promise information that is missing.
A well-written title and description help people understand a result; they do not guarantee a particular ranking or snippet. Each page should have a meaningful title and an honest description suited to its subject.