Glossary
What is a SERP?
A SERP (search engine results page) is the page a search engine shows after a query. Today it holds much more than ten blue links: ads, AI Overviews, featured snippets, People Also Ask, videos, images, local results and more. What appears changes by query and affects how many clicks organic results get.
Common SERP features
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| AI Overview | AI summary with source links |
| Featured snippet | Extracted answer from one page |
| People Also Ask | Expandable related questions |
| Ads | Paid results, top and bottom |
| Video and image packs | Results from YouTube and images |
| Discussions and forums | Reddit and forum threads |
| Knowledge panel | Entity facts |
| Sitelinks | Extra links under a brand result |
Why it matters
The same position gets very different clicks depending on what sits above it. Position 1 under an AI Overview and four ads can get fewer clicks than position 3 on a plain page. Check the SERP, not just the position.
Example
A query shows a Discussions and forums block above organic results. The founder answers the question well in the top thread, which then sends more visitors than her ranking page.
FAQ
Is SERP pronounced "serp"?
Yes, usually said as one word.
Are SERPs the same for everyone?
No. Location, language, device and history change them.
How do I track SERP features?
SEO tools record which features appear for your keywords.