Impressions

DefinitionIn Google Search Console, an impression is counted when a link to your site appears in a search result a user sees.

Impressions show visibility before clicks. Appearances in AI Overviews and AI Mode are included in the Performance report, and since 2026 Search Console also has generative AI performance reports that show impressions in those features. Those reports don't show which prompt or competitors were involved.

Learn it step by step

• Connect Search Console and read the overview (Google Search Console tools)
• Measuring AI visibility honestly (AEO and GEO fundamentals)

Related terms

• CTR (click-through rate): Click-through rate is clicks divided by impressions: the share of people who saw your result and clicked it.
• AI Overview: An AI Overview is the AI-generated summary Google shows at the top of some search results, with links to the pages it drew on.
• SERP (search engine results page): A SERP is the page a search engine shows for a query: organic results plus features such as AI Overviews, ads, maps, videos and "People also ask".