Why it matters to a buyer
The same position can be worth very different amounts of traffic depending on what else is on the page. Ranking first below an AI Overview, four ads and a map pack is a different result from ranking first on a page of plain links. For a buyer, this is why a plan should start by looking at the actual results page for each target query and choosing which feature to compete for, not just a position number.
How it is measured or applied
SERPs are studied query by query: which features appear, which sites hold them, and what type of content ranks, such as guides, product pages, lists or local listings. That tells you what Google believes the searcher wants. Rank tracking tools record positions and the presence of features over time, and Search Console reports impressions and clicks so you can see when a new feature is taking clicks from a stable ranking. The layout also differs between mobile and desktop and between countries, so both are checked.
Sources
- Visual elements gallery of Google Search, Google Search Central
