Free Schema Checker: Validate Structured Data Against Google's Rules
Check any page's schema markup for errors, missing Google-required properties and rich result types Google has retired. Paste a URL or code.
- ✓ Free
- ✓ No sign-up
- ✓ JSON-LD, Microdata, RDFa
- ✓ Google required properties
- ✓ 2026 rules
- ✓ CSV report
By Sheikh Shadi Shuvo, Founder of Backlink Express · Updated
Schema markup in one sentence
Schema markup is structured data, usually JSON-LD, that describes a page's content to search engines. Valid markup can make a page eligible for rich results, but Google doesn't guarantee them.
How to check your schema markup
- Choose "Check a URL" and enter a page, or "Paste code" to test JSON-LD or HTML before it goes live.
- Click "Check Schema".
- Fix the errors first (red), then warnings (yellow). Notes (blue) explain retired features. Download the report for your developer.
What this schema checker checks
- JSON syntax. One missing comma breaks a whole JSON-LD block; search engines ignore it.
- @context and @type on every item.
- Google-required properties for each supported rich result type, plus key recommended ones.
- Retired features: FAQPage, HowTo, sitelinks search box, special announcements, Dataset.
- Formats: absolute URLs for url, image and logo; ISO 8601 dates for datePublished, startDate and others.
- Self-serving reviews on your own business or organization.
- @graph and nested items, such as a Product inside a page's graph.
What is schema markup?
Schema markup is code that labels the content of a page using the Schema.org vocabulary: this is a product, this is its price, this is the author. Search engines use it to understand a page and, for some types, to show rich results such as product prices, star ratings, event dates or breadcrumbs.
It doesn't change what visitors see, and it isn't a ranking factor on its own. What it can do is make a page eligible for richer search features and clearer to machines, including AI search tools.
JSON-LD vs Microdata vs RDFa
| Format | How it's added | Google's view |
|---|---|---|
| JSON-LD | A separate <script type="application/ld+json"> block | Recommended: easiest to add and maintain |
| Microdata | Attributes (itemscope, itemprop) inside the HTML | Supported |
| RDFa | Attributes (typeof, property) inside the HTML | Supported |
Source: Google Search Central, 'Introduction to structured data markup' (checked October 2026).
Google's required properties by type
If an item is missing a required property, Google says it isn't eligible for that rich result. Two surprises: Article and Organization have no required properties, only recommended ones.
| Type | Required by Google | Key recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Article | None | headline, image, datePublished, dateModified, author |
| Product (snippet) | name, plus one of review, aggregateRating or offers; offers need price | — |
| Product (merchant listing) | name, image, offers with price (above 0) and priceCurrency | — |
| Organization | None | name, url, logo, sameAs |
| LocalBusiness | name, address | telephone, url, openingHoursSpecification, geo |
| BreadcrumbList | itemListElement; each item needs position, name and item (URL), except the last | — |
| Event | name, startDate, location, location.address | endDate, offers, performer |
| Recipe | name, image | author, cookTime, recipeIngredient |
| Review snippet | author, itemReviewed (with name), reviewRating with ratingValue | datePublished |
| VideoObject | name, thumbnailUrl, uploadDate | description, duration, contentUrl |
| SoftwareApplication | name, offers.price (0 if free), plus aggregateRating or review | applicationCategory, operatingSystem |
Source: Google Search Central structured data documentation for each type (checked October 2026).
Rich results Google has retired
Many generators and plugins still add markup for features Google no longer shows. The markup isn't harmful, but it won't produce a rich result:
| Feature | Status in Google Search |
|---|---|
| HowTo | Removed, September 2023 |
| FAQ (FAQPage) | Limited to government and health sites in 2023; removed for everyone May 2026 |
| Sitelinks search box (WebSite SearchAction) | Removed, November 2024 |
| Course info, estimated salary, learning video, special announcement, vehicle listing | Phased out in 2025 |
| Dataset | No longer shown in Google Search since November 2025 (still used by Dataset Search) |
| Practice problem | Removed, January 2026 |
Source: Google Search Central 'Latest updates' log (checked October 2026).
Rich Results Test vs Schema Markup Validator
Google points to two official tools, and they answer different questions:
- Rich Results Test (Google): which Google rich results can this page get? Google recommends starting here. It renders JavaScript.
- Schema Markup Validator (schema.org): is this valid schema.org markup? It checks all types without Google-specific rules.
- This checker: a quick plain-English report of errors, Google-required properties and retired types, with a CSV export. It reads the server HTML, so test JavaScript-added schema with the Rich Results Test.
The old Structured Data Testing Tool no longer does Google-specific validation; Google moved that to the Rich Results Test.
Common schema errors and how to fix them
| Error | Fix |
|---|---|
| JSON syntax error (missing comma, quote or bracket) | Run the block through a JSON formatter, or regenerate it with our Schema Markup Generator |
| Missing @context | Add "@context": "https://schema.org" at the top |
| Missing required property | Add it, using the exact property name from the table above |
| Relative URL (e.g. /logo.png) | Use the full URL: https://example.com/logo.png |
| Invalid date | Use ISO 8601: 2026-10-24 or 2026-10-24T09:00:00+06:00 |
| Price in the wrong format | Use a number (49.99) and a separate priceCurrency (USD) |
| Duplicate items from several plugins | Keep one source of schema per page |
| Markup for content not on the page | Only mark up what visitors can see |
Which schema to use on each page type
After checking a page, compare its markup with what that kind of page usually needs:
| Page type | Main schema | Also useful |
|---|---|---|
| Homepage | Organization (or LocalBusiness) | WebSite |
| Blog post / news | Article, BlogPosting or NewsArticle | BreadcrumbList, Person for the author |
| Product page | Product with Offer | AggregateRating and Review (real customer reviews only), BreadcrumbList |
| Local business / location page | LocalBusiness or a subtype (e.g. Dentist) | OpeningHoursSpecification, GeoCoordinates |
| Event page | Event | Offer for tickets, Place for the venue |
| Recipe | Recipe | VideoObject, AggregateRating |
| Software / SaaS / tool page | SoftwareApplication or WebApplication | Offer (price 0 if free), Organization |
| Video page | VideoObject | BreadcrumbList |
Based on Google's supported structured data types (checked October 2026).
A simple schema audit workflow
- Pick one page of each template (home, post, product, category). Schema usually comes from templates, so one fix repairs hundreds of pages.
- Run each through this checker and fix errors first: syntax, missing required properties, wrong formats.
- Remove duplicates. Theme plus SEO plugin plus page builder often output the same Organization or Article twice.
- Remove or ignore retired types. FAQPage and HowTo no longer produce rich results; keep them only if another tool you use reads them.
- Confirm with the Rich Results Test for JavaScript-rendered markup, then watch the Enhancements reports in Search Console.
Use our Sitemap URL Extractor to list every page of a template if you need to spot-check more of them.
Google's structured data rules
- Mark up what users see. Google says not to mark up content that isn't visible to readers.
- Be truthful. Structured data must be a true representation of the page content.
- No guarantees. Google doesn't guarantee that structured data will show up in search results.
- Penalties exist. Misleading or spammy markup can lead to a manual action that removes rich result eligibility.
Need to build markup from scratch? Use our Schema Markup Generator, which only offers types Google still supports and marks the required fields.
About this tool
- Input: one URL per check (fetched as a crawler would, without running JavaScript) or pasted JSON-LD/HTML up to 1 MB.
- Validation: JSON-LD in detail; Microdata and RDFa are detected and listed.
- Rules: based on Google Search Central documentation, checked October 2026.
- Privacy: pasted code and results aren't stored.
Frequently asked questions
What is a schema checker?
A tool that finds the structured data (schema markup) on a page and checks it for errors: broken JSON, missing properties, wrong formats and types that no longer produce rich results.
Is this schema checker free?
Yes. Check a URL or paste code with no sign-up, and download the report as a CSV.
Which formats does it check?
It validates JSON-LD in detail and detects Microdata and RDFa. Google recommends JSON-LD, but says all three formats are fine if the markup is valid.
Does it check against Google's required properties?
Yes, for the main Google rich result types: Article, Product, Local business, Organization, Breadcrumb, Event, Recipe, Review snippet, Video and Software app.
How is this different from Google's Rich Results Test?
The Rich Results Test is Google's official check of which rich results a page can get, and it renders JavaScript. This tool reads the page's HTML, explains each problem in plain English, flags retired rich result types and exports a report. Use both.
And the Schema Markup Validator?
The Schema Markup Validator (validator.schema.org) checks any schema.org vocabulary without Google-specific rules. It tells you if the markup is valid schema.org, not whether Google will use it.
Do FAQ rich results still work?
No. Google limited FAQ rich results to government and health sites in 2023, then removed them from Search for everyone in May 2026. FAQPage markup is still valid schema.org, but it won't show FAQ dropdowns.
Do HowTo rich results still work?
No. Google removed HowTo rich results in September 2023.
Does schema markup improve rankings?
Not directly. Structured data helps Google understand a page and can make it eligible for rich results, but Google says it doesn't guarantee your structured data will show up.
Why does the checker find no schema on my page?
Your site may add schema with JavaScript after the page loads. This tool reads the HTML the server sends. Paste the rendered code, or test with Google's Rich Results Test.
Can I put review stars on my own business page?
Google treats reviews a business controls about itself as 'self-serving', and those pages aren't eligible for star rich results.
What's the difference between an error and a warning?
Errors (like a missing required property) make the item ineligible for that rich result. Warnings are recommended properties or format issues that won't block eligibility but can limit how the result appears.
Can I check several pages?
Check one URL at a time. For many pages, use Search Console's rich result reports for your own site.
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See the marketplaceBacklink Express is not affiliated with Google or Schema.org. Rules reflect Google Search Central documentation as of October 2026.