Definition
What is Search Intent?
Search intent is the underlying goal a user has when typing a query into a search engine. The four primary intent categories are informational (seeking knowledge), navigational (looking for a specific website), transactional (ready to take an action like purchasing), and commercial investigation (comparing options before a decision).
Why it matters
Aligning page content with search intent is the most important factor in ranking, because Google prioritizes results that match what the user is actually trying to accomplish.