What is search intent in simple terms?
Search intent is 'what the user actually wants' when typing a query. The same query can hide different goals: buy, learn, compare, find a specific site. SEO in 2026 isn't about 'ranking for a keyword' — it's about 'giving the user what they want.' If intent is 'buy' but you have an article, Google will demote you. 4 basic intent types: informational, commercial, navigational, transactional.
Search intent is 'what the user actually wants' when typing a query. The same query can hide different goals. SEO in 2026 isn't ranking for keywords — it's matching user intent. Wrong intent = Google demotes you regardless of other SEO factors.
4 intent types
| Type | Goal | Example | Page type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informational | Learn | "how to brew coffee" | Blog article |
| Commercial | Compare before buying | "best coffee maker 2026" | Review / comparison |
| Transactional | Buy now | "buy DeLonghi coffee maker" | Product page |
| Navigational | Find specific brand | "amazon" | Brand homepage |
How to detect intent
Google the query and check top 10. Articles → informational. Reviews → commercial. Product pages → transactional. One brand homepage → navigational.
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