What is HowTo structured data, and how do you add it?
guide // , 5 min read, by Darthwares
HowTo structured data is a standardized format that provides instructions for achieving a specific result by performing a sequence of steps. By adding this data to your web pages, you help Google understand the step-by-step content. This can enable rich results in search, which are more engaging to users and might encourage them to interact more with your website.
On this page // 5 sections
The short version
- HowTo structured data describes step-by-step instructions for a task.
- It helps Google understand the instructional content on a page.
- Implementing HowTo structured data can make your page eligible for rich results.
- You must include all required properties and accurate recommended properties.
- Use Google's Rich Results Test to validate your structured data implementation.
What is HowTo structured data?
HowTo structured data is a standardized format for providing information about a page and classifying its content. Specifically, Schema.org defines HowTo as instructions that explain how to achieve a result by performing a sequence of steps. Google uses structured data that it finds on the web to understand the content of the page, such as the ingredients and cooking time on a recipe page. This understanding helps Google gather information about the web and the world, including details about people, books, or companies mentioned in the markup.
Adding structured data can make search results more engaging for users, leading to what are known as rich results. These enhanced displays in search results might encourage users to interact more with your website. It is crucial that the structured data on your page accurately describes the content visible to the user. Google documents that you should not create blank or empty pages solely to hold structured data, nor should you add structured data about information that is not visible to the user, even if the information is accurate.
What properties does HowTo structured data include?
Schema.org specifies several properties for HowTo structured data, which describe various aspects of the instructions. Google requires that you include all the necessary properties for an object to be eligible for appearance in Google Search with an enhanced display. While there are also recommended properties, Google emphasizes that it is more important to provide fewer but complete and accurate recommended properties rather than attempting to include every possible recommended property with less complete, badly-formed, or inaccurate data.
The `step` property represents a single instruction item. This can be a HowToStep, plain text, a document, or a video. Beyond the steps, you can describe the resources needed and the time involved. For instance, the `supply` property describes an item consumed during the instructions, while the `tool` property refers to an object used but not consumed.
Time-related properties include `totalTime`, which is the overall time required, including preparation. This can be broken down into `prepTime`, the time needed to prepare items, and `performTime`, the time it takes to actually perform the instructions. All these duration properties should be in ISO 8601 format. Additionally, the `estimatedCost` property allows you to specify the approximate cost of the supplies consumed.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| step | A single instruction item (e.g., text, video) |
| supply | An item consumed during instructions |
| tool | An object used but not consumed |
| totalTime | Total time to complete (including preparation) |
| prepTime | Time to prepare items for instructions |
| performTime | Time to perform the instructions themselves |
| estimatedCost | Estimated cost of the supplies consumed |
How do you add HowTo structured data to a page?
To make your site eligible for appearance as a rich result, you must implement structured data on your site according to Google's guidelines. The structured data you add must accurately describe the content that is visible to the user on that specific page. It is important not to create blank or empty pages solely for the purpose of holding structured data, nor should you include structured data about information that is not displayed to the user. Google provides an introduction to structured data for those who are just starting out, explaining how it works.
How do you validate HowTo structured data?
After implementing HowTo structured data on your page, it is important to validate it to ensure it is correctly formatted and eligible for rich results. Google offers the Rich Results Test as an easy and useful tool for this purpose. This tool allows you to check your structured data for errors and, in many cases, provides a preview of how the feature might appear in Google Search. You can preview most rich result features using this test.
Common questions
What is structured data?
Structured data is a standardized format for providing information about a page and classifying its content. Google uses this data to understand the content of the page, as well as to gather information about the web and the world in general, such as details about people, books, or companies.
Why should I add HowTo structured data?
Adding HowTo structured data can enable search results that are more engaging to users, known as rich results. These enhanced displays might encourage users to interact more with your website. Google uses structured data to understand the content on the page and show that content in a richer appearance in search results.
What information should HowTo structured data include?
HowTo structured data describes instructions for achieving a result through a sequence of steps. It should include properties like the individual steps, supplies consumed, tools used, and various time durations such as total time, preparation time, and performance time. It can also include the estimated cost of supplies. All structured data on the page must describe content that is visible to the user.
How can I check if my HowTo structured data is correct?
You can use Google's Rich Results Test, which is a useful tool for validating your structured data. This test helps ensure that your markup is correctly implemented and eligible for enhanced display in Google Search. In some cases, it also allows you to preview how the feature might appear.
Primary sources and further reading
This article was researched and written by an AI model and published automatically. It was written from sentences that were checked to appear on the pages below, but a person has not reviewed the text. If something is wrong, tell us at chibivikramathithan@darthwares.com and we will correct it.