Structured Data
Standardized code that helps search engines and AI understand the content of a page.
Structured data is coded information on a web page that helps search engines and AI systems understand the content. The most used format is JSON-LD with the Schema.org — bibliotheekterm vocabulary. Structured data explicitly tells machines what the content means: this is an article, this is the author, this is the publication date.
Benefits of structured data
Structured data can lead to rich snippets — bibliotheekterm in search results (star ratings, FAQs, breadcrumbs), Knowledge Panel listings, and better AI interpretation of your content. It's a direct communication line with machines.
Structured data and AEO
For AI answer engines, structured data is one of the strongest signals. It makes your content machine-readable and increases the chance that AI models cite you as a source. Schema.org markup is therefore an essential part of any AEO — bibliotheekterm strategy.
Google-supported Structured Data types
| Type | Rich result | Required fields | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article | Headline in Top Stories, visually richer result | headline, image, datePublished, author | Blog posts, news articles, editorial content |
| FAQPage | Expandable questions in search results | mainEntity (Question + Answer) | FAQ sections on pages |
| HowTo | Steps with images in SERP — bibliotheekterm | name, step (HowToStep with text) | Guides, tutorials, recipes |
| Product | Price, availability, reviews in SERP | name, image, offers (price, priceCurrency) | Product pages in e-commerce |
| LocalBusiness | Knowledge Panel, Local Pack — bibliotheekterm | name, address, telephone | Local businesses with physical location |
| Organization | Knowledge Panel, logo in search results | name, url, logo | Company homepages |
| BreadcrumbList | Breadcrumb trail in search results | itemListElement (ListItem with name, item) | Navigation structure on every page |
| Review / AggregateRating | Stars in search results | reviewRating or ratingValue, ratingCount | Product or service reviews |
| Event | Date, location, tickets in SERP | name, startDate, location | Events, webinars, conferences |
| VideoObject | Video thumbnail in search results | name, description, thumbnailUrl, uploadDate | Video content on your page |
| JobPosting | Job listing in Google for Jobs | title, description, datePosted, hiringOrganization | Job posting pages |
| Recipe | Prep time, ingredients, image in SERP | name, image, recipeIngredient | Recipe pages |
JSON-LD vs Microdata vs RDFa
| Aspect | JSON-LD | Microdata | RDFa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syntax | JSON in <script> tag | HTML attributes (itemscope, itemprop) | HTML attributes (typeof, property) |
| Google preference | Recommended | Supported | Supported |
| Maintenance | Easy: separate from HTML | Difficult: interleaved with markup | Difficult: interleaved with markup |
| Dynamic loading | Easy with JavaScript | Not possible without DOM changes | Not possible without DOM changes |
| Readability | High (JSON format) | Low (scattered attributes) | Low (scattered attributes) |
| Recommendation | Use JSON-LD for new implementations | Only if already in place | Only for specific use cases (government, academia) |
Frequently asked questions
Is structured data the same as Schema.org?
No, but they're often used together. Structured data is the concept of machine-readable information on a web page. Schema.org is the vocabulary (the "language") you use to mark up structured data. JSON-LD is the format you write it in.
Can structured data directly improve my ranking?
Structured data is not a direct ranking factor, but it can indirectly improve your ranking. Rich snippets increase your CTR, which is a positive signal. Additionally, search engines understand your content better, which can help with relevance assessment.
How much structured data should I add?
Add structured data for every relevant type on your page, but only if the information is also actually visible to users. Excessive or misleading markup can lead to a manual action from Google.
How do I know which type of structured data to use?
Check the Google Search Gallery for an overview of supported types and their associated rich results. Choose the type that best matches the content on your page.
Do AI models use structured data?
Yes. AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overview — bibliotheekterm extract information from structured data to verify facts and cite sources. Well-marked content has a higher chance of being selected as a source.
