Glossary of terms
Search intent
Contents
Search intent is the purpose behind a user’s query: they want to find out something, compare options or make a purchase. It determines what kind of answer the model will look for.
Last updated: 8 September 2026
What does that mean?
Three intentions, three different meanings
An information-seeking query requires an explanation, a comparison of options, or – in the case of a transactional query – a specific offer with its terms and conditions. Any text that addresses an intention other than that of the query will not be quoted, however well-written it may be.
In the models’ responses, the comparative intent is the most valuable and the most difficult. It is this that determines the list of names, so it decides whether a brand is included in the recommendations at all, alongside which others, and in what order.
FAQ
Questions about this concept
The questions most frequently asked in connection with this concept.
How many intentions are there?
Most commonly, there are three: informational, comparative and transactional. Some classifications also include a navigational category, i.e. searching for a specific brand.
Which intention is the most important in AI?
Comparative, because it’s in this section that the model lists the brands. That’s where it’s decided whether you’re included in the recommendations.
Can a single text serve two purposes?
It’s rarely a good idea. It’s better to split it into two subpages and link them together than to mix everything together in a single piece.
Find out which questions trip you up
To start with, you get 250 AeloCoins, without a card. That’s enough to run a measurement and test the modules. Once you’ve used them up, you switch to a paid plan. The report separates queries in which the brand is present from those in which it isn’t.
