What is search intent?
Search intent is the goal behind a query, what the searcher actually wants: information, a specific site, a comparison, or to buy.
In plain English
The four classic types are informational (“how to…”), navigational (“go to X”), commercial (“best…”), and transactional (“buy…”). Matching your page to the intent behind a keyword matters more than the keyword itself, the wrong format won't rank no matter how optimised.
Why it matters for AI search
AI engines are intent machines: they interpret what the user means and assemble the best answer. Content that nails intent, and is structured to answer it directly, is what they pull from.
Frequently asked
Search it and study the results. If Google shows guides, it's informational; if product/category pages, it's transactional. Match that format.
AI assistants answer the underlying need, not the literal words, pages that satisfy intent are the ones they synthesise answers from.
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