In computer science, a common prefix that means "about"
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META TAGS Definition: In computer science, a common prefix that means "about". The HTML META tag is used to describe the contents of a Web page. Meta-tags are HTML tags that can be used to identify the creator of a Web page, what HTML specifications a Web page follows, the keywords and description of the page, etc. The most common use of a meta-tag in online marketing is the keyword and description tags, which tell the search engines that index meta-tags what description to use in their search query results. Some search engines such as AltaVista use "spiders" to index Web pages. These spiders read the information contained within a page's META tag. So in theory, an HTML or Web page author has the ability to control how their site is indexed by search engines and how and when it will "come up" on a user's search. Here's a look at the syntax for search engine indexing: <HTML> <HEAD><TITLE></TITLE> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="web stuff"> </HEAD></HTML> The META tag can also be used to specify an HTTP or URL address for the page to "jump" to after a certain amount of time. This is known as Client-Pull. What this means, is a Web page author can control the amount of time a Web page is up on the screen as well as where the browser will go next. Here's a look at the syntax for Client Pull: <HTML> <HEAD><TITLE></TITLE> <META HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" CONTENT="30; URL=meta2.html"> </HEAD> </HTML> This will "refresh" or change to the URL specified in 30 seconds. Objective: Demonstrate proficiency using HTML commands. Demonstrate proficiency in page design applicable to the WWW. Develop, integrate, and apply HTML codes for search engines (e.g., META TAGS). Instructions: 1. Use a search engine to locate five (5) Web sites of the same topic of your individual interest. 2. Copy and paste the URL address of each site to a WordPad or Microsoft Word document. Save the document as MetaFile. 3. Go to View Source at each URL address. 4. Copy and paste the Meta tags to the MetaFile document inserting the tags below each corresponding URL address. Save the document. Be sure to find sites that use the keyword and description Meta tags. 5. Print out your list to share with a group of students.
