Strategy
Structured Data
Also known as: schema markup, schema data & machine-readable markup
Plain English
Organising content so glossarySystemA system is a collection of interconnected components that work together to achieve a specific function or outcome.Open glossary term can understand it.
Definition
Structured glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term is a standardised format used to organise and label content so it can be easily understood by glossarySearchSearch is the functionality that allows users to find content or information by entering queries. It relies on indexing, metadata, and relevance algorithms to return useful results.Open glossary term engines and AI glossarySystemA system is a collection of interconnected components that work together to achieve a specific function or outcome.Open glossary term.
In practice
Used to enhance glossarySearchSearch is the functionality that allows users to find content or information by entering queries. It relies on indexing, metadata, and relevance algorithms to return useful results.Open glossary term results with rich snippets, improve glossaryIndexingIndexing is the process of organising and storing content in a way that makes it searchable and retrievable. It enables systems to quickly locate relevant information based on queries.Open glossary term, and provide clearer glossaryContextContext is the set of surrounding conditions that shape how someone behaves and decides, including their goal, their environment, their time pressure, and what happened immediately before. The same action can mean different things in different contexts.Open glossary term to machines.
In context
It is how a page tells a machine what it is rather than leaving it to be inferred. The cost is low and the benefit compounds as more glossarySystemA system is a collection of interconnected components that work together to achieve a specific function or outcome.Open glossary term read pages rather than render them.
The reality
Without structure, content is harder to interpret, even if it is high quality.
Compared with
Structured Data vs Metadata
glossaryMetadataMetadata is data that describes and provides information about other content, such as titles, descriptions, tags, and attributes. It supports organisation, search, and content management.Open glossary term is any descriptive glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term about content. Structured data is a standardised, machine-readable subset following an agreed vocabulary, so external glossarySystemA system is a collection of interconnected components that work together to achieve a specific function or outcome.Open glossary term can interpret it without knowing your conventions.
FAQ
Common questions
A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this term.
What is structured data?
Structured glossaryDataData is raw, uninterpreted information collected and stored so it can be analysed, processed, or used to inform decisions. On its own it carries no meaning; context and interpretation are what make it useful.Open glossary term is a way of glossaryLabellingLabelling is the practice of naming content, categories, and interface elements in a way that is clear and meaningful to users. It directly affects how users understand and navigate a product.Open glossary term content so glossarySystemA system is a collection of interconnected components that work together to achieve a specific function or outcome.Open glossary term can understand it.
Why is structured data important?
It improves how content is interpreted and displayed in glossarySearchSearch is the functionality that allows users to find content or information by entering queries. It relies on indexing, metadata, and relevance algorithms to return useful results.Open glossary term.
Where is structured data used?
In websites, glossarySearchSearch is the functionality that allows users to find content or information by entering queries. It relies on indexing, metadata, and relevance algorithms to return useful results.Open glossary term engines, and AI glossarySystemA system is a collection of interconnected components that work together to achieve a specific function or outcome.Open glossary term.
What does structured data enable?
Rich results, better glossaryIndexingIndexing is the process of organising and storing content in a way that makes it searchable and retrievable. It enables systems to quickly locate relevant information based on queries.Open glossary term, and improved glossaryContextContext is the set of surrounding conditions that shape how someone behaves and decides, including their goal, their environment, their time pressure, and what happened immediately before. The same action can mean different things in different contexts.Open glossary term.
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