What is Structured Data?
TL;DR
Structured data is machine-readable code added to your web pages that explicitly tells search engines and AI models what your content means.
Last updated: 2026-03-09
Definition#
Structured data is a standardized way to provide information about your web page content in a format that machines can easily read and process. It turns implicit information (a reader can tell $29.99 is a price) into explicit, labeled data (this is a
price with a currency of USD and a value of 29.99).
There are three main formats for structured data: JSON-LD (recommended), Microdata, and RDFa. All three use the Schema.org vocabulary to define types and properties. JSON-LD is the most widely used because it is easy to implement and maintain.
Common structured data types include Organization, Product, Article, FAQPage, LocalBusiness, Event, Recipe, and HowTo. Each type has specific properties that describe the thing in detail.Why It Matters for AI Readiness#
Structured data is one of the strongest signals you can send to AI models. It eliminates ambiguity and gives models explicit, labeled facts to work with. Sites with comprehensive structured data score higher on the AgentReady™ Schema Markup factor and are more likely to be cited accurately by AI platforms.
For step-by-step implementation, see How to Add Schema Markup.
Related Concepts#
Structured data uses JSON-LD as its preferred format and Schema.org as its vocabulary. It is a key component of the Schema Markup factor.
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