Definition

Schema Markup

Structured data (usually JSON-LD) that describes a page's content in a machine-readable way.

Full definition

Schema markup is metadata embedded in a page using the schema.org vocabulary, typically as a JSON-LD <script> in the <head>. It tells search engines exactly what kind of thing a page is about — article, product, FAQ, organization, recipe, event, etc.

Why it matters

AI engines lean on schema heavily for grounding. A page with proper FAQPage, Article, or Product schema is dramatically easier to cite confidently than the same content without markup.

Example

<script type='application/ld+json'>{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage",...}</script>

Related terms

Put it into practice

Run a free OptimAIze scan to see how your site handles Schema Markup and the rest of the GEO checklist.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Schema Markup the same as SEO?

No. Schema Markup is one piece of the broader GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) program that sits on top of classical SEO. The two work together — classical SEO gets you crawled and indexed; Schema Markup is part of what gets you cited by AI engines.

Do I need a tool to implement Schema Markup?

For most teams, a free scanner like OptimAIze is enough to identify what's missing. Implementation is usually a copy-paste of generated markup or a small code change — no specialist tool required.