Extended definition
The page title that appears in the browser tab and as the blue title in the SERP. Recommended limit: 50-60 characters.
Context and application
Google can rewrite the meta title automatically (in 2024-2025 it did so on ~60% of results, per public studies). That doesn’t mean meta title doesn’t matter anymore — it remains a relevance signal and fallback when Google doesn’t rewrite. Common mistake: title that exactly duplicates H1. Better: short title with keyword + brand (“Complete SEO Audit for WordPress · Brand”), more descriptive H1. The 60-char limit is for desktop; on mobile it cuts at 35-40 visible chars. Write the keyword in the first 30 characters to be safely visible.
In practice
write for the user (clear + attractive) with the main keyword near the start.