JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) is a structured data format that uses JSON syntax to implement linked data and schema markup for web pages.
Overview
JSON-LD serves as the preferred method for implementing structured data markup that search engines use to understand webpage content. Google recommends JSON-LD over other structured data formats because JSON-LD separates structured data from HTML markup, making implementation cleaner and maintenance easier. JSON-LD enables websites to communicate detailed information about their content to search engines, improving search result appearance and enabling rich snippets.
Examples
• An e-commerce website uses JSON-LD to mark up product information, enabling Google to display price, availability, and review ratings directly in search results
• A local business implements JSON-LD schema for organization and location data, improving visibility in Google My Business and local search results
• A blog uses JSON-LD to structure article metadata, helping search engines understand publication dates, authors, and content topics for better SERP positioning
Related Terms
• Schema Markup – The vocabulary and structure that JSON-LD implements for search engines
• Structured Data – The broader category of markup formats that includes JSON-LD
• Rich Snippets – Enhanced search results that display information from JSON-LD markup
• Knowledge Graph – Google’s database that uses structured data from JSON-LD to build entity relationships