Entity

An entity is a thing/concept that search engines and AI models can identify and relate to other entities, forming the foundation of semantic search.

What is an entity?

An entity is a distinct, well-defined thing or concept—such as a person, place, organization, product, or idea—that search engines and AI models can uniquely identify, understand, and relate to other entities. Unlike simple keywords, entities represent real-world subjects with specific attributes and relationships, allowing search systems to comprehend meaning and context rather than just matching text strings.

Entities enable several key capabilities:

• Form the foundation of semantic search and knowledge graphs
• Enable search engines to understand connections between concepts and deliver relevant results
• Allow systems to distinguish between different meanings using context (e.g., "Apple" as a company vs. a fruit)
• Help search engines and AI accurately identify and surface content through clear entity signals

Optimizing content around clear entity signals—through structured data, consistent naming, authoritative mentions, and contextual relationships—helps search engines and AI systems accurately identify and surface your content when users search for related topics.

Learn more: Explore how entities power search understanding in our Knowledge Graph guide.