Thumbnail: meaning and how it works

A thumbnail is the cover image that represents a video in feeds and search results.

Strong thumbnails use one idea, large text and contrast. See our thumbnail checklist.

How it works in practice

Most people see thumbnails the size of a thumb, so they must be readable at small sizes. One clear subject and a few big words work best.

Example

Example: a laptop photo with “Under ₹40,000” in large text beats a busy collage.