Schema Markup
Schema markup is a form of structured data added to your website's HTML that helps search engines better understand the content of your pages. It uses a standardized vocabulary provided by Schema.org, which is supported by Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Yandex.
By adding schema markup, you can make your content eligible for rich results in search — such as star ratings, product availability, recipe cards, event listings, FAQs, and more.
Why schema markup matters for SEO
Schema markup doesn’t directly boost your rankings, but it:
- Helps search engines interpret your content more accurately
- Increases the chance of rich results in Google’s search listings
- Improves click-through rates (CTR) by making your result more eye-catching
- Supports voice search and featured snippets
- Enhances accessibility and user experience
Common types of schema markup
Type | Use Case |
---|---|
Article | News articles, blog posts |
Product | E-commerce product info, price, availability |
FAQPage | Question-and-answer content |
Review | Star ratings and user feedback |
Event | Dates, times, and locations of events |
LocalBusiness | NAP, business hours, and location data |
Recipe | Cooking instructions and ingredients |
HowTo | Step-by-step instructional content |
HTML example: Basic schema markup using JSON-LD
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is schema markup?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Schema markup is structured data that helps search engines understand your content and display rich results."
}
}]
}
</script>
This example adds structured data to a FAQ page so Google can display the question and answer directly in the search results.
Best practices for using schema markup
- Use the JSON-LD format (Google’s preferred method)
- Add schema to important pages like products, blog posts, FAQs, and events
- Only mark up content visible to users
- Validate your markup with tools like Google's Rich Results Test or Schema Markup Validator
- Follow Google’s structured data guidelines to avoid manual actions
- Update schema regularly to reflect changes in content or offerings
In summary, schema markup helps search engines understand your content more clearly by adding structured data to your HTML. While it doesn't directly boost rankings, it makes your content eligible for rich results — helping you stand out in search and attract more clicks.