JSON-LD
JSON-LD is the recommended format for adding schema markup to a page, embedding structured data as a separate JSON block so machines can read your content's meaning without touching the visible layout.
Also known as: JSON Linked Data
JSON-LD is the cleanest way to add structured data. It places your
schema markup in a self-contained <script type="application/ld+json">
block, separate from your visible HTML — so you describe your content to machines
without altering the page's appearance or tangling markup into the layout. It's
Google's recommended format and the industry default.
For AEO, the practical advantages are maintainability and accuracy: because the structured data lives in one discrete block, it's easy to generate, validate, and keep in sync with the page. That makes it straightforward to express the entities and relationships an engine needs to read you correctly — the extractability of your metadata. Tools like Google's Rich Results Test let you confirm it parses.
Example. A recipe page includes a JSON-LD block listing its ingredients, cook time, and rating. Visitors see a normal page; machines read the structured block and know precisely what each value means.
Relevant pillar
Related terms
- Schema MarkupSchema markup is structured data added to a page using schema.org vocabulary that tells machines explicitly what the content is, helping AI systems understand and trust your information.
- FAQPage SchemaFAQPage schema is structured data that marks a list of questions and answers on a page, making your Q&A content explicit and machine-readable for search and AI systems.
- Article SchemaArticle schema is structured data that identifies a page as an article and specifies its headline, author, and publish and update dates, helping engines attribute and date your content correctly.