Synonyms: Schema markup Rich Snippet code
Structured data is a standardized format for providing information about a webpage and its content, making it easier for search engines to understand. It uses a specific vocabulary (often in the form of schema markup) to organize data on a website, which can enhance how that site appears in search engine results. This additional context helps search engines like Google display rich results, such as star ratings, event details, product prices, and more.
For example, structured data can help Google show details like:
- Recipes with cooking times and ratings.
- Events with dates and locations.
- Products with prices and reviews.
Structured data is written in code formats like JSON-LD, Microdata, or RDFa. One of the most common types is schema.org markup, which is a collaboration between major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to create a universal structure for web content.
Using structured data can improve a website’s visibility by enabling rich snippets (enhanced search results) that stand out in search engine results pages (SERPs). This often leads to higher click-through rates and better SEO performance.