{"id":21377,"date":"2020-01-28T16:56:13","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T16:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/glosario-digital\/zero-position"},"modified":"2026-09-19T16:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:14:15","slug":"zero-position","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/zero-position","title":{"rendered":"Zero Position"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ZeroDefinition:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zero position<\/strong> is a common name for the featured snippet that a search engine may display before the first conventional organic result. It presents an extract from a page to provide a prominent answer to a query and includes a link to the source.<\/p>\n

The name does not represent a position that the page owner can purchase or configure. The search engine selects the content and may change it or stop displaying it.<\/strong> In addition, the composition of the SERP<\/a> varies according to the query, device, country and other formats. With AI Overviews and other modules now present, zero position refers specifically to a featured snippet, not to every element shown before the organic results.<\/p>\n\n

Usefulness of zero position in search engines<\/h2>\n

A featured snippet can provide a short answer, list, table or video.<\/strong> It also gives the source additional visibility and may attract visits when the searcher needs to explore the information further.<\/p>\n

Its effect on clicks is not uniform.<\/strong> For some queries it may draw more attention to the result; for others, the visible answer may satisfy the need without a visit. It should not be confused with an AI Overview<\/a>, knowledge panel, rich result or advertisement.<\/p>\n

Zero position and AI Overviews<\/h2>\n

A featured snippet extracts and highlights content from a particular page.<\/strong> The search engine may adapt the extract to the query, but it retains an identifiable main source and its link leads to the section used. An AI Overview instead creates a generative synthesis and may draw on several web pages and data sources.<\/p>\n

Google explains that its AI features<\/a> may issue multiple related searches to develop a response and identify supporting links. This allows them to address complex questions through a broader composition than a single featured snippet. The selection and links can differ between an AI Overview and a conventional search<\/strong>, even though both belong to the search results experience.<\/p>\n

Both formats depend on the query and the search engine systems. A featured snippet does not become an AI Overview or guarantee that the page will appear as one of its supporting sources. Google displays AI Overviews when its systems determine that they add value beyond classic Search, so they do not accompany every query.<\/p>\n

How to obtain a featured snippet<\/h2>\n

No formula guarantees selection.<\/strong> Practices that make information easier for a search engine to understand and extract include:<\/p>\n