What Is Structured Data?
Structured data is a standardized format, usually written in a code called schema markup, that labels the parts of a page so a machine can understand them without guessing. Instead of a search engine or AI model inferring that a number on your page is a price, structured data states it directly: this is a price, this is a review score, this is a publish date.
How it works
You add a small block of code to a page, invisible to human visitors, that describes the content in a standard vocabulary, most commonly schema.org. A recipe page might mark up the ingredients, cook time, and rating. A product page might mark up the price, availability, and reviews.
Why it helps beyond search rankings
- Removes ambiguity: a model does not have to guess what a number or phrase means
- Makes specific facts easy to lift accurately into an AI answer, like a price or a rating
- Powers rich results in Google, like star ratings or FAQ dropdowns, which also signal reliability
Common types worth adding
- Organization markup, so your brand name and logo are clearly identified
- FAQPage markup for question and answer content
- Product markup for prices, availability, and reviews
- Article markup for publish and update dates
Does it directly boost AI mentions
There is no confirmed guarantee, but it removes friction. A model deciding whether to state a fact confidently is more likely to do so when that fact is stated cleanly in structured data rather than buried in a sentence that could be read multiple ways.
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