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What Is JSON-LD? Structured Data Format Basics

Learn what JSON-LD is, why it is commonly used for Schema markup, and what to check before publishing.

JSON-LD is a JSON-based format for adding linked data to a web page. In everyday web production, it is commonly used to output Schema.org structured data without mixing the data directly into visible HTML markup.

JSON-LD keeps structured data separate

Unlike microdata, which adds attributes to HTML elements, JSON-LD is usually placed in a script tag. That makes it easier to generate from templates, components, or content models while keeping the visible page markup clean.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "What Is JSON-LD?",
  "datePublished": "2026-05-07",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "TOOLPOOL"
  }
}

Check @context and @type first

@context tells consumers which vocabulary the data uses. For Schema.org structured data, it is usually https://schema.org. @type tells them what the item represents, such as Article, WebSite, BreadcrumbList, or SoftwareApplication.

JSON-LD checklist

  • The script type is application/ld+json
  • The JSON parses without errors
  • @context and @type are present
  • Structured data does not claim content that is missing from the page
  • Old JSON-LD is not left behind after template changes

Because JSON-LD is not visible on the page, broken or outdated data can be easy to miss. Use the TOOLPOOL Schema Checker to extract JSON-LD from a public URL and review detected types and properties before publishing.

References