Zero-Click Search
noun

Definition:
A type of search result in which a user’s query is answered directly on the search engine results page (SERP) or within an AI interface—such as a featured snippet, knowledge panel, or AI-generated response—without requiring the user to click through to a third-party website. Zero-click searches reduce traffic to publishers and are a growing concern in SEO as AI systems increasingly deliver self-contained answers.

Usage:
“Most of their long-tail keyword traffic disappeared due to zero-click search results dominating the SERPs.”

Compare:
Featured Snippet, AI Overview, Generative Answer Box, Click-Through Rate (CTR)

First Known Use:
2010s, as featured snippets and instant answers became more prevalent in search engine design.