SEO has its own language. If you have ever looked at a report and wondered what SERP, CTR, or DA actually mean, you are not alone.

Search engine optimization is full of abbreviations. For beginners, it can feel like trying to learn a new alphabet. This guide breaks down 75 common SEO abbreviations in simple, plain English so you can understand what matters and why.

Whether you run a business, manage marketing, write content, or are just getting started with SEO, this glossary will help you make sense of the terminology.

Core SEO Abbreviations

1. SEO – Search Engine Optimization

SEO is the process of improving your website so it ranks higher in search engines like Google and attracts organic traffic.

2. SERP – Search Engine Results Page

The SERP is the page you see after you search for something on Google.

3. CTR – Click-Through Rate

CTR is the percentage of people who click your link after seeing it in search results.

4. CPC – Cost Per Click

CPC is the amount you pay each time someone clicks your ad.

5. CPA – Cost Per Acquisition

CPA measures how much it costs to gain one customer or lead.

6. ROI – Return on Investment

ROI shows whether your SEO efforts are profitable compared to what you spend.

7. KPI – Key Performance Indicator

A KPI is a measurable metric used to track performance, such as traffic or conversions.

8. CMS – Content Management System

A CMS is software that allows you to manage website content. WordPress is a common example.

9. UX – User Experience

UX describes how easy and enjoyable your website is to use.

10. UI – User Interface

UI refers to the design elements users interact with, such as buttons and navigation.

On-Page SEO Abbreviations

11. H1 – Heading 1

The main headline of a webpage. Every page should have one clear H1.

12. H2 / H3 – Subheadings

Subheadings organize content and make it easier to read.

13. ALT – Alternative Text

ALT text describes an image so search engines and screen readers can understand it.

14. URL – Uniform Resource Locator

The URL is the web address of a page.

15. CTA – Call to Action

A CTA encourages users to take action, such as signing up or contacting you.

16. Meta Title

The clickable headline that appears in search results.

17. Meta Description

The short summary under your title in search results.

18. KW – Keyword

A keyword is the phrase someone types into a search engine.

19. LSI – Latent Semantic Indexing

LSI refers to related terms that help search engines understand context.

20. IA – Information Architecture

IA is how your website content is structured and organized.

Technical SEO Abbreviations

21. HTML – HyperText Markup Language

The code used to build webpages.

22. XML – Extensible Markup Language

Often used for sitemaps that help search engines find your pages.

23. HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol

The system that transfers data between a browser and a website.

24. HTTPS – Secure HTTP

A secure, encrypted version of HTTP.

25. SSL – Secure Sockets Layer

Technology that protects data transferred between users and websites.

26. CDN – Content Delivery Network

A network of servers that helps your website load faster worldwide.

27. API – Application Programming Interface

A system that allows different software programs to communicate.

28. Core Web Vitals

Google’s metrics that measure page speed and user experience.

29. LCP – Largest Contentful Paint

Measures how quickly the main content loads.

30. CLS – Cumulative Layout Shift

Measures visual stability while a page loads.

31. FID – First Input Delay

Measures how quickly a page responds to user interaction.

32. TTFB – Time to First Byte

The time it takes for a server to respond to a request.

33. JS – JavaScript

A programming language used to create interactive features.

34. CSS – Cascading Style Sheets

Code that controls the visual design of a website.

35. AMP – Accelerated Mobile Pages

A framework designed to make mobile pages load faster.

Link Building and Authority Metrics

36. DA – Domain Authority

A score predicting how likely a website is to rank.

37. DR – Domain Rating

A backlink strength score provided by Ahrefs.

38. PA – Page Authority

A ranking strength score for individual pages.

39. Backlink

A link from another website to yours.

40. Referring Domain

A unique website that links to you.

41. Nofollow

A link that does not pass ranking authority.

42. Dofollow

A link that passes ranking authority.

43. Anchor Text

The clickable text in a hyperlink.

44. Internal Link

A link from one page of your site to another.

45. External Link

A link from your site to another website.

Analytics and Marketing Terms

46. GA – Google Analytics

A tool used to track website traffic and user behavior.

47. GSC – Google Search Console

A tool used to monitor search performance.

48. PPC – Pay Per Click

An advertising model where you pay for each click.

49. CPM – Cost Per Mille

The cost per 1,000 ad impressions.

50. CRO – Conversion Rate Optimization

The process of improving your website to increase conversions.

51. Conversion Rate

The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action.

52. Bounce Rate

The percentage of users who leave without interacting further.

53. Impressions

The number of times your page appears in search results.

54. Page Views

The total number of pages viewed.

55. LTV – Lifetime Value

The total revenue you expect from a customer.

Advanced SEO Abbreviations

56. E-E-A-T – Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness

Google’s framework for evaluating content quality.

57. YMYL – Your Money or Your Life

Content related to health, finance, or safety.

58. Search Intent

The reason behind a user’s search query.

59. Canonical Tag

A tag that prevents duplicate content issues.

60. Schema Markup

Structured data that helps search engines understand your content.

61. Crawling

The process of search engines scanning websites.

62. Indexing

Adding pages to a search engine’s database.

63. Crawl Budget

The number of pages a search engine will crawl on your site.

64. 301 Redirect

A permanent redirection from one URL to another.

65. 404 Error

An error indicating a page cannot be found.

Local and Mobile SEO Terms

66. Google Business Profile

A free tool for managing local business listings.

67. NAP – Name, Address, Phone Number

Key business details used in local SEO.

68. Local Pack

The map-based business listings shown in local search results.

69. Mobile SEO

Optimizing your website for mobile devices.

Content Strategy Terms

70. Evergreen Content

Content that remains relevant over time.

71. Pillar Page

A comprehensive page covering a broad topic.

72. Topic Cluster

A group of related articles linked to a pillar page.

73. Thin Content

Low-quality or minimal content.

74. Duplicate Content

Content that appears on multiple URLs.

75. Content Audit

A review of website content to improve performance.

Final Thoughts

SEO is much easier to manage when you understand the language behind it. Once you know what these abbreviations mean, reports become clearer, and strategies make more sense.

Keep this glossary bookmarked and revisit it whenever a new term appears. The more familiar you become with SEO terminology, the more confident you will feel managing your website’s growth.

Frequently Asked Questions