What is structured data?
Structured data is defined as data found in a fixed field in a file or record. A relational database management system (RDBMS) is typically used to store structured data. It can contain both numbers and text. It can be sourced manually or automatically, as long as it is stored in an RDBMS. The process begins with developing a data model, which identifies which types of data should be included and how they should be stored and processed.
SQL (Structured Query Language) is used for structured programming data. In the 1970s, IBM developed SQL for the use of relational databases. Structured data includes data such as names, email addresses, credit card numbers, and geographic locations.
Structured data is also a markup language. As with HTML, structured data enables search engines to display content (data) attractively by exposing the content in an organized manner.
An example of structured data is the meta description element in HTML.
Metadata is information that can be accessed by site visitors but not directly seen by them. Structured data is information that is accessible by search engines.
With structured data, search engines can assign meaning to images and content to accurately display that information in search results.
Understanding the structure of structured data
Google Search tries hard to comprehend the content of a webpage. You can help us by including structured data on a page that helps Google understand the meaning of the page. The Structured Data format is the standardized way to provide information about a specific page, e.g., what are the ingredients, what's cooking time and temperature, what's the calorie count, etc.
It is Google's job to gather information about the web and the world in general by using structured data it finds on the web and understanding each page's content.
Structured data format
The following document provides information regarding the types of required, recommended, and optional properties for structured data with particular relevance to Google Search. The Google Search structured data mainly uses schema.org vocabularies, but the Google Search Central documentation is the one to trust in terms of Google Search behavior. Other services, tools, and platforms may find schema.org attributes and objects useful.
Schema.org and Structured Data
Structured data can be found on the official Schema.org website. The schema.org organization is responsible for creating the rules for online information organizations.
It is Schema.org's Steering Group and the giant Community Group that is responsible for the development of the structured data protocol.
Discussions, proposals, creation, and updating of structured data are the primary duties of the community group. Ultimately, the process is managed by a small group of people called the Steering Group.
How to Use Structured Data?
Google prefers structured data in the form of JSON-LD scripts.
Structured data can also be formed in other ways, but these are more complicated to use than JSON-LD.
Structured data can also alter the HTML of a web page. On the other hand, the JSON-LD format is independent of HTML and may be placed anywhere within a web page's code.
Depending on your needs, you can incorporate it into the footer, the body of the text, or even at the beginning of the page.
Using JSON-LD structured data is simple because it is a script that can be copied and pasted into any text or code editor you desire.