A meta description is a brief summary of a webpage's content, typically ranging from 150 to 160 characters. It appears in search engine results below the page title and URL, helping users understand what the page is about before clicking. A well-crafted meta description can improve click-through rates by attracting more visitors. Search engines like Google use meta descriptions to provide context for their users. While they do not directly influence search rankings, a compelling meta description can encourage users to choose your link over others. Therefore, writing clear and engaging meta descriptions is an essential part of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).