Featured snippet (position zero)
A featured snippet is the answer box Google places above the standard results. It pulls a short passage from a page — definition, list, or table — that directly addresses the question asked. Earning it requires both relevance and a clearly structured answer.
In practice
To qualify, the page must contain a compact, well-marked response: 40 to 60 words under a heading that echoes the question. The box captures a significant share of clicks, but it can also answer so completely that the user never clicks through. Placing the opening of an answer there — one that calls for the rest — is the practical counter.