Both yes and no. Yes - Google does use meta description to display website description on their search results. Even Google does not gives any important toward meta tags anymore but other search engines do, so it is still alive. No - If you are oriented to Google only, then meta tags is nothing to you and Google. It does not gives any benefits to yourself and Google use them to display description only. So it does not exist in this case.
The Meta Description tag can still be important in Google search. Here's an example: I Googled "Spirit-filled sermons". My home page came up #1 in the SERPs. The search phrase was not in the title, but it was in the Description below the title link in the SERPs. In other words, I came up #1 in the search because the search phrase was in my Meta Description.
I think meta tags are important for Yahoo and Bing search engines and Google ignore them. Its just y idea and i am not sure bout it .
Meta keywords tag has been omitted on Google but all other meta tags would still alive, IMO. Have a nice day,
Meta Tags plays and important factor in Google SERP. SO Always create uniue meta tags fot each pages. It helps Google in searching and indexing any page. For more information about Google and SEO hidden facts visit http://seo-secret-blog.blogspot.com/
Yes still there and an important part of the over all bundle of stuff you need to get right to make it work
It does not help like before, but it is in some way helpful with atlest providing information. Don't leave it blank, just fill with what you want to rank for, but don't waste time in it for long
A site’s Meta tags may not be as important as it used to be before, however I feel that Meta Description is something you can’t just ignore. A site’s Meta description should contain a brief description of your website focusing on the areas and services that your business is specialized in.
Interesting discussion -I am new at SEO and I recently was doing some research for a veterinary business and the top listing in Google had zero meta info - no desc, no keyword on the home page. Yet it ranked #1 ahead of other sites with meta info. From what I can tell this site ranked #1 mainly on its domain check it out would like you have your expert opinions mapleridgeveterinaryhospital.com
IMO, meta description tags are still alive and well. How? I find them in the SERPS most often in Yahoo, but also in Google and MSN. This is an excellent way to make your page stand out in the SERPs and show compelling copy to pull in those extra click-thoughs. All you really need to do is spend the time to craft a few great descriptions. Then you just replace your KW phrase for every page.