Meta descriptions are important for search optimization. If done correctly, they’ll encourage users to click through from search results pages.
The goal is to provide a summary of the webpage.
Google’s guideline states:
“A page’s meta description tag gives Google and other search engines a summary of what the page is about.”
Meta descriptions do not directly influence search rankings.
But they play a role in helping potential site visitors understand what a page is about, which can provide a positive impact on search referrals.