Short definition
The goal behind a search: what the person actually wants.
Beginner In plain English
Two people can type similar words but want different things. Search intent is figuring out whether they want to learn, compare, buy or find a specific site.
Professional How pros use it
Commonly grouped as informational, navigational, commercial and transactional. The current results page is the best evidence of intent. A page that does not match intent rarely ranks, however well optimized.
Examples
- "how to groom a dog" is informational.
- "dog groomer near me" is transactional.
More detail
The goal behind a search: to learn, find a specific site, compare options, or take an action.
In client work, you will often need to explain this term in plain language, so practice describing it in one sentence.
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