1.1 Robots & directives (HTTP + HTML)CriticalVerified
max-snippet:0 directive
max-snippet:0 is nosnippet by another name. It permits a snippet of zero characters, so the practical effect is no snippet and no AI-feature eligibility.
What it is
max-snippet:0 is functionally equivalent to nosnippet, no snippet permitted.
Why it matters
Same effect as nosnippet: removes snippet eligibility and therefore AI-feature input eligibility.
How to fix it
Set max-snippet to -1 (Google’s choice) or a positive length, or remove it.
How to find it on your site
- Search the robots meta tag and X-Robots-Tag header for max-snippet:0.
- Treat it exactly as you would nosnippet.
- Check whether a plugin set it globally by mistake.
- Replace it with a positive max-snippet value or remove it.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
Same effect as nosnippet for AI visibility. The page can rank but cannot be quoted, which defeats the purpose for answer-led search.
Impact
Severe/blocking for snippet and AI eligibility. Direct.
Evidence
Conflicting/equivalent: max-snippet:0 ≈ nosnippet; nosnippet governs AI-feature input. Google Search Central, Robots Meta Tags Specifications