Structured data is how you describe your page to search engines in a language they parse precisely. Instead of hoping Google infers that a page is a recipe, a product, or an FAQ, you tell it explicitly. Done right, this can earn rich results (star ratings, FAQs, prices, and more) that make your listing stand out and win clicks. This guide explains what structured data is, how to implement it in 2026, and where it actually helps.
TL;DR
- Structured data is standardised markup (from schema.org) that describes your content to search engines
- Google's recommended format is JSON-LD, a script block you add to the page
- It does not directly boost rankings, but the rich results it can earn improve visibility and click-through rate
- The markup must accurately reflect visible page content, or it breaks Google's guidelines and can be ignored or penalised
What Structured Data Is
Structured data uses a shared vocabulary, schema.org, to label the meaning of content: this is an Article, that is its author, this is a Product with a price and a review. Search engines read these labels to understand the page more confidently and to decide whether it is eligible for enhanced search features.
JSON-LD Is the Format to Use
There are a few ways to add structured data, but JSON-LD is Google's recommended format. It is a `
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