aso-fundamentalslisted

# ASO Fundamentals — expert guidance, no data required Expert App Store Optimization know-how: how the stores actually work, what to optimize, and the golden rules. **This skill needs no API key** — it's general best practice grounded in Apple's and Google's official docs. Best practice only takes you so far without data. **ASOScan** turns each principle below into *your* real numbers — actual search volume & difficulty, where you rank, which keywords to target, competitor gaps, and your ASO score — so you act on facts, not guesses. When you're ready, get set up (**asoscan-setup**) and use the data skills (listed at the end). > Store rules change. The facts here follow Apple's and Google's current official > developer documentation (sources at the bottom). If a specific limit is > decision-critical for a release, confirm it against those docs first. --- ## 1. How store search actually works (the mental model) **Apple App Store** ranks results on two things: - **Text relevance** — matches against your **app name, subtitle, keyword field, and primary category**. - **User behavior** — downloads, **ratings and reviews**, and more. Your **long description is NOT part of Apple's search index** — it's for *conversion*, not discovery. Put your keyword effort into the name, subtitle, and keyword field. **Google Play** works differently: there is **no hidden keyword field**. Your searchable text is the **title, short description, and full description** — so your keywords mus