SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, the process of improving a website to rank higher in search results. Search engines like Google use bots to crawl and index the web, then algorithms analyze that index to deliver the most relevant results to users.

Effective SEO is built on three pillars: On-Page SEO, which involves optimizing keywords, content quality, and HTML tags; Off-Page SEO, focused on building authority through backlinks; and Technical SEO, ensuring a site's speed, mobile-friendliness, and security with HTTPS.

For businesses, SEO drives free traffic and builds trust, as users often click organic results over ads. A well-optimized site can sustain visibility for years. For example, a New York bakery using local keywords and earning a link from a food blogger appears when someone searches for "best bread near me."