SEO & GEO Glossary
279 terms covering AI search optimization, traditional SEO, content strategy, and technical concepts.
Featured terms
AI Search Ranking Factors
AI SearchThe signals and factors that AI-powered search engines use to determine which sources to cite, reference, or surface in their generated responses.
Citation Optimization
AI SearchThe strategic practice of structuring and presenting content to maximize the probability of being referenced and cited as a source in AI-generated responses and search results.
Conversational Search Optimization
AI SearchThe practice of optimizing content to perform well in conversational and natural language search interfaces, including voice assistants, chatbots, and AI-powered search engines.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
TechnicalA Core Web Vitals metric that measures the sum of all unexpected layout shift scores that occur throughout the entire lifespan of a page, quantifying visual instability.
Edge SEO
TechnicalAn SEO technique that uses edge computing infrastructure to modify HTML responses at the CDN level, enabling dynamic SEO optimizations without changing origin server code.
First Contentful Paint (FCP)
TechnicalA performance metric that measures the time from when a page starts loading to when any part of the page's content is rendered on the screen.
First Input Delay (FID)
TechnicalA Core Web Vitals metric that measures the time from when a user first interacts with a page to the time when the browser is able to begin processing event handlers in response.
First Meaningful Paint (FMP)
TechnicalA deprecated performance metric that measured when the primary content of a page became visible to users, now replaced by Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).
Headless CMS SEO
TechnicalThe practice of optimizing content delivered through headless content management systems, addressing unique challenges of API-first architectures and decoupled frontends.
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
TechnicalA Core Web Vitals metric that measures the latency of all user interactions throughout a page visit, reporting the longest duration from user input to visual feedback.
International SEO
TechnicalThe practice of optimizing websites for search engines across multiple countries and languages, ensuring content reaches the right audience in their preferred language and location.
JavaScript SEO
TechnicalThe practice of optimizing JavaScript-heavy websites for search engine crawling and indexing, ensuring dynamic content is discoverable and properly rendered.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
TechnicalA Core Web Vitals metric that measures the render time of the largest image or text block visible within the viewport, relative to when the page first started loading.
Multi-Modal Search Optimization
AI SearchThe practice of optimizing content across multiple formats—text, images, video, audio, and interactive elements—to maximize visibility in AI-powered multi-modal search systems.
Progressive Web App SEO
TechnicalThe practice of optimizing Progressive Web Apps for search engines while maintaining app-like functionality, offline capabilities, and superior performance.
Prompt Optimization SEO
AI SearchThe practice of optimizing content to surface in AI-generated responses by aligning with common prompt patterns, query formations, and user interaction behaviors.
RAG Optimization
AI SearchThe practice of optimizing content to perform well in Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems that power AI search engines and chatbots by combining retrieval and generation.
Render-Blocking Resources
TechnicalCSS and JavaScript files that prevent the browser from rendering page content until they're fully downloaded and processed, significantly impacting page load performance.
Speed Index
TechnicalA performance metric that measures how quickly the contents of a page are visibly populated, calculated as the average time at which visible parts of the page are displayed.
Time to First Byte (TTFB)
TechnicalA web performance metric that measures the time from when a browser requests a page until it receives the first byte of data from the web server.
Time to Interactive (TTI)
TechnicalA performance metric that measures the time from page start until the page is reliably interactive, meaning it displays useful content, responds to user interactions within 50ms, and has registered event handlers.
Total Blocking Time (TBT)
TechnicalA lab metric that measures the total time the main thread is blocked by long tasks, preventing user input responsiveness between First Contentful Paint and Time to Interactive.
301 Redirect
TechnicalA 301 redirect is a permanent HTTP redirect that passes most link equity to the new URL.
302 Redirect
TechnicalA 302 redirect is a temporary HTTP redirect used when a URL change is not permanent.
AI Content Detection
AI SearchAI content detection identifies whether content appears AI-generated or human-written.
AI Overview
SEOAI Overview is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Overview Definition
SEOAI Overview Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Overviews Optimization
AI SearchAI Overviews optimization improves content structure so AI summaries cite your pages.
AI Search Intent
AI SearchAI search intent is the intent behind queries directed at AI answer engines.
AI Visibility
AI SearchAI Visibility is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Visibility
AI SearchAI Visibility is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Visibility Definition
AI SearchAI Visibility Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Visibility Monitoring
AI SearchAI visibility monitoring tracks how often your brand appears in AI answers over time.
Alt Text
SEOAlt text is descriptive text for images that improves accessibility and helps search engines understand images.
Anchor Text
SEOAnchor Text is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Anchor Text Definition
SEOAnchor Text Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
3
A
AI Answer Engine
AI SearchA search system that uses artificial intelligence to directly answer user queries with synthesized responses rather than returning a list of links to external websites.
AI Citation
AI SearchWhen an AI system like ChatGPT or Perplexity references or attributes information to a specific source in its generated response, typically displayed as a numbered link or source reference.
AI Content Detection
AI SearchAI content detection identifies whether content appears AI-generated or human-written.
AI Crawler
AI SearchAutomated bots operated by AI companies that scan websites to collect training data for language models or to enable real-time AI search functionality.
AI Overview
AI SearchGoogle's AI-generated summary that appears at the top of search results for certain queries, synthesizing information from multiple sources. Learn how AI Overviews work and how to optimize for citation.
AI Overview
SEOAI Overview is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Overview Definition
SEOAI Overview Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Overviews Optimization
AI SearchAI Overviews optimization improves content structure so AI summaries cite your pages.
AI Search Intent
AI SearchAI search intent is the intent behind queries directed at AI answer engines.
AI Search Ranking Factors
AI SearchThe signals and factors that AI-powered search engines use to determine which sources to cite, reference, or surface in their generated responses.
AI Visibility
AI SearchAI Visibility is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Visibility
AI SearchAI Visibility is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Visibility Definition
AI SearchAI Visibility Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
AI Visibility Monitoring
AI SearchAI visibility monitoring tracks how often your brand appears in AI answers over time.
Alt Text
SEOAlt text is descriptive text for images that improves accessibility and helps search engines understand images.
Anchor Text
SEOThe visible, clickable text in a hyperlink that provides context to both users and search engines about the content of the linked page.
Anchor Text
SEOAnchor Text is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Anchor Text Definition
SEOAnchor Text Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Answer Engine Optimization
AI SearchAnswer engine optimization focuses on content structured for AI-generated answers.
Assisted Conversions
AnalyticsAssisted conversions measure how a channel supports conversions earlier in the funnel.
Attribution Models
AnalyticsAttribution models assign credit for conversions across multiple touchpoints.
B
Backlink Profile
SEOBacklink Profile is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Backlinks
SEOIncoming hyperlinks from external websites to your site, serving as a critical ranking factor that signals trust, authority, and relevance to search engines. Learn how to build quality backlinks ethically.
Bounce Rate
AnalyticsThe percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page. Learn what's a good bounce rate, why it varies by page type, and how to reduce bounces for better engagement.
Bounce Rate
SEOBounce Rate is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Bounce Rate Definition
SEOBounce Rate Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Brand Mentions in AI
AI SearchBrand Mentions in AI is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
C
Canonical Link Meaning
SEOCanonical Link Meaning is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Canonical Tag
TechnicalA canonical tag is an HTML link element that tells search engines the preferred URL for a page.
Canonical Tag
TechnicalA canonical tag is an HTML link element that tells search engines the preferred URL for a page.
Canonical Tag Definition
TechnicalA canonical tag is an HTML link element that tells search engines the preferred URL for a page.
Canonical URL
SEOThe preferred version of a web page specified using the rel=canonical tag, telling search engines which URL to index when duplicate or similar content exists.
Canonical URL Meaning
SEOCanonical URL Meaning is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Canonicalization
TechnicalCanonicalization is the process of selecting the preferred URL among duplicates or near-duplicates.
Category Pages
SEOCategory pages group related products and target broader ecommerce queries.
ChatGPT Search
AI SearchOpenAI's web search feature integrated into ChatGPT that allows the AI to browse the internet in real-time to provide current information and cite sources. Learn how SearchGPT works and how to optimize for it.
Citation Flow
SEOCitation Flow is a metric that estimates link volume and influence based on link quantity.
Citation Optimization
AI SearchThe strategic practice of structuring and presenting content to maximize the probability of being referenced and cited as a source in AI-generated responses and search results.
Citation Score
AI SearchA metric measuring how frequently and prominently a website or brand is cited by AI assistants like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews when answering user queries.
Citation Worthiness
AI SearchCitation worthiness measures how likely content is to be cited by AI systems.
Click Through Rate
SEOClick Through Rate is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Click Through Rate Definition
SEOClick Through Rate Definition is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.
Click-Through Rate
AnalyticsThe percentage of people who click on a link after seeing it. Learn CTR benchmarks by position, how to improve your click-through rates, and why CTR matters for SEO.
Commercial Investigation
ContentCommercial investigation is a search intent focused on comparing options before buying.
Content Audit
ContentA systematic review and analysis of all content on a website to evaluate performance, identify gaps, and determine which content to keep, improve, consolidate, or remove.
Content Brief
ContentA strategic document that outlines the requirements, guidelines, and goals for a piece of content before it's created, ensuring alignment between stakeholders and writers.
Content Briefing Process
ContentThe content briefing process defines scope, intent, and structure before writing begins.
Content Decay
ContentContent decay is the gradual loss of traffic or rankings as content becomes outdated.
Content Freshness
ContentA ranking factor where search engines favor recently published or updated content, particularly for queries where timeliness matters.
Content Gap Analysis
ContentContent gap analysis identifies missing topics or queries your competitors cover but you do not.
Content Hub
ContentA centralized collection of content organized around a specific topic, typically featuring a main page that links to related articles, guides, and resources.
Content Length
SEOContent length is the amount of text on a page and how deeply it covers a topic.
Content Outline
SEOA content outline is a structured plan of sections and headings that guides page creation.
Content Pruning
ContentContent pruning is the process of removing or consolidating low-value pages to improve site quality.
Content Refresh
ContentA content refresh updates an existing page to improve accuracy, freshness, and rankings.
Conversational Search Optimization
AI SearchThe practice of optimizing content to perform well in conversational and natural language search interfaces, including voice assistants, chatbots, and AI-powered search engines.
Conversion Rate
AnalyticsThe percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action. Learn how to calculate, benchmark, and improve conversion rates for your SEO traffic.
Conversion Rate
SEOConversion Rate is a core SEO concept that influences how search engines evaluate, surface, or interpret pages.