PromptScoutWhat is Query Intent?
Query Intent is the underlying goal a user has when issuing a query, such as learning, comparing options, or completing a task. Query Intent can be inferred from wording, modifiers, and context.
Quick definition
Query Intent is what the user wants to achieve with a search or prompt.
How Query Intent works
- Query Intent is commonly classified into broad types such as informational, navigational, or commercial.
- Query Intent can change with modifiers such as “best,” “price,” “how,” or “near me.”
- Query Intent guides what content format is most appropriate, such as a definition, list, or step-by-step answer.
- Query Intent influences answer ranking when an answer engine selects which sources to use.
Why Query Intent matters
Query Intent matters because optimization depends on matching the expected answer format.
Query Intent affects:
- whether content is selected for featured snippets and AI overviews
- whether pages are used as sources for LLM answers
- how content clusters should be organized across different intents
Example use cases
- Creating separate pages for “what is” definitions and “best” comparisons for the same topic.
- Writing headings that match common question forms to align with conversational search.
- Measuring performance by prompt set grouped by query intent.