What is the purpose of the <meta> tag in HTML?

The tag in HTML serves the important function of specifying metadata about the HTML document. Metadata is data that provides information about other data, and in the context of an HTML document, it includes information such as the character set, keywords, author, description, and viewport settings. This information is not displayed directly on the web page but is utilized by browsers and search engines to understand and process the content of the page more effectively.

For instance, the tag can define the character encoding used in the document, which ensures that the text is rendered correctly in different browsers. Additionally, it can provide a brief description of the page that search engines might use in search results, improving visibility and SEO. This essential role distinguishes the tag from other components of an HTML document, which have different functionalities such as linking to styles or scripts or enabling dynamic behavior.