What it is
User intent is the why behind a search. Someone typing best CRM for small business wants a comparison, not a dictionary definition; someone typing login wants to sign in, not read an article. The words are a clue; the intent is the actual job to be done.
Why it matters
Answer engines are intent machines. They read a question, infer what the person really needs, and assemble the response that satisfies it. Content that nails the intent gets selected and cited; content that matches the keywords but misses the goal gets skipped, no matter how well it is optimized on paper. Serving intent is how you stay relevant to both classic ranking and AI answers.
What to do
Before writing, name the intent behind your target query: is the person trying to learn, compare, buy, or do something? Match the format to that goal, and check the current results to see what intent the engine is already rewarding.