# Favicon

> A favicon is the small icon of a website that browsers show in tabs and bookmarks and Google shows next to the site name in results.

- **Check ID:** S17
- **Area:** [SEO](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo)
- **Tool:** [SEO + Security + Performance](https://be1st.ai/tools/ssp-audit)
- **Page:** https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/favicon

## Why it matters

Google displays the favicon next to the site name in search results. A favicon increases the credibility and recognizability of a website. Without one, a generic icon is shown, which lowers CTR.

## In practice

GitHub uses its iconic octocat favicon, which is instantly recognizable among ten open browser tabs. Websites without a favicon appear less professional, and users have a harder time finding them among open tabs.

## How be1st checks it

Checks for the presence of a favicon: a small icon displayed in browser tabs, bookmarks, and search results. The check also detects when the icon is a platform default (Vercel, WordPress, Wix and similar) instead of the brand's own icon. A favicon increases brand recognition.

[SEO + Security + Performance](https://be1st.ai/tools/ssp-audit), SEO tab.

Every check ends as: Pass, Warning, Fail.

## Sources

- [HTML `<link>` Element](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/link) (MDN Web Docs)
- [SEO Starter Guide](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide) (Google Search Central)

## Related terms

- [Status code and broken links](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/status-code-and-broken-links): An HTTP status code is the server's three-digit answer to a request, such as 200 (OK) or 404 (not found). A broken link points to a page that answers with an error.
- [robots.txt](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/robots-txt): robots.txt is a plain text file at the root of a website that tells crawlers which parts of the site they may and may not visit.
- [sitemap.xml](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/sitemap-xml): An XML sitemap is a file that lists the important URLs of a website, so search engines can find them without relying on links alone.
- [HTTPS (SEO)](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/https): HTTPS is the encrypted version of HTTP. It protects data between the browser and the server, and browsers mark sites without it as not secure.
- [WWW consistency](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/www-consistency): WWW consistency means a website answers on one host name only, either with www or without it, and redirects the other version there.
- [Trailing slash consistency](https://be1st.ai/glossary/seo/trailing-slash-consistency): Trailing slash consistency means every URL is used in one form only, either /page or /page/, and the other form redirects to it.