What is meaning of 42x zoom in camera?

I wanted to buy nikon p510 camera with 42x zoom… In that what is the meaning of 42x? Whether the image can be magnified 42 times after clicking or the image at the 42 times far looks near to camera?

It means that the longest focal length available is 42 times the shortest.
Which is useless information isn't it?

It means that the lens focal length from widest to longest is 42x.

What it means is that before you take (click) the picture, you need to frame it the way you want it to look, then press the shutter release.