Schema Markup Validator
Check your structured data for syntax errors and missing properties before Google does, from a live URL or code you paste in.
What schema markup does
Schema markup (structured data) is code that describes your page in a format machines understand: “this is a product, it costs £29 and it’s in stock”, or “this is a recipe that takes 40 minutes”. Google uses it to show rich results such as product prices and stars, recipe cards, event dates and breadcrumb trails, which stand out in search and earn more clicks.
Google recommends the JSON-LD format: a <script type="application/ld+json"> block that sits apart from your visible HTML. That’s what this validator checks.
What gets checked
- Syntax: a single missing comma makes Google ignore the whole block. The validator shows roughly where the error is.
- @context: every block needs
"@context": "https://schema.org". - Required and recommended properties for the types Google uses: Article, Product, Offer, Review, AggregateRating, BreadcrumbList, FAQPage, Organization, LocalBusiness (and subtypes such as Restaurant), Recipe, Event, VideoObject, JobPosting, SoftwareApplication, Course and more.
- Common value mistakes: prices with currency symbols, dates that aren’t in ISO 8601 format, relative image URLs and over-long headlines.
Required vs recommended
Required properties must be present, or the item can’t appear as a rich result at all. Recommended properties are optional, but adding them gives Google more to show and makes rich results more likely. Never add properties that aren’t true or visible on the page: Google can apply a manual action for misleading structured data.
Rich results that changed recently
- FAQ: since 2023 Google shows FAQ rich results only for well-known government and health websites. The markup is still valid, just rarely displayed.
- HowTo: Google stopped showing HowTo rich results in 2023.
- Review stars on your own business: “self-serving” reviews of your own organisation or local business aren’t eligible for stars.
After validating
This tool catches most problems instantly and works on drafts before you publish. For Google’s final word on a live page, run the Rich Results Test, then watch the Enhancements reports in Google Search Console, which show errors across your whole site.
How to use the Schema Markup Validator
- Enter a page URL, or switch to Paste code and paste your JSON-LD.
- Click Validate and read the syntax errors and missing required properties first.
- Fix the code, validate again, then confirm with Google’s Rich Results Test.
Frequently asked questions
Does it check microdata and RDFa?
It validates JSON-LD, the format Google recommends. If microdata is found it is counted, and you can check it with Google’s Rich Results Test.
Does valid schema guarantee rich results?
No. Valid markup makes a page eligible, but Google decides when to show rich results based on quality, relevance and its own policies.
Can I validate schema before publishing?
Yes. Switch to Paste code and paste the JSON-LD or the whole HTML of your draft.