Top is a search engine slang term used to refer to the first, highest-ranking results on a search engine results page (SERP). Traditionally, “Top” has been associated with the first ten results (positions 1 through 10), which historically correspond to the first page of a search engine.
Conceptually, reaching “Top” is the ultimate goal of any SEO strategy for a given keyword. Top positions attract exponentially higher click-through rates (CTR), with position #1 often garnering over 30% of all traffic. Therefore, any movement within the “Top” – even from position 3 to position 2 – can have a drastic effect on business results.
Although the term has persisted, as SERPs have evolved (including paid advertising, featured snippets, etc.), “Top” is no longer just a fixed list of 10 links. More accurate expert understanding includes screen visibility (Above the Fold) and capturing the so-called “Position Zero” (Selected Excerpt), which are the most desirable visibility areas.