Structured data is a powerful tool for enhancing your search presence, but it’s only effective if it’s implemented correctly. A validation error is a critical issue in your structured data that prevents it from being valid. This is a major SEO issue, as it can make your pages ineligible for rich results. This guide will explore the common causes of validation errors and how to fix them.
Think of your structured data as a set of instructions for search engines. If the instructions are unclear or incorrect, the search engine won’t be able to follow them. For a broader look at structured data, see our guide on the structured data category.
Common Validation Errors in Structured Data
As explained in Google’s own guide to structured data, there are several common causes of validation errors.
- Missing Required Properties: Some structured data types, such as `Recipe` or `Product`, have required properties that must be included.
- Invalid Values for Properties: Some properties have specific value requirements, such as a date in ISO 8601 format or a price in a specific currency.
- Incorrectly Formatted Structured Data: Your structured data must be formatted correctly, with no syntax errors, in order to be valid.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Valid Structured Data
The goal is to have structured data that is free of errors and warnings. For more on this, check out this guide to the Schema Markup Validator.
Example: The Fix
Imagine you have a `Recipe` schema, but you’ve forgotten to include the `name` property. This is a required property, so it will cause a validation error. The fix is to add the `name` property to your schema.
- Use the Rich Results Test: This is the first and most important step. It will tell you if your page is eligible for rich results and will identify any errors or warnings in your structured data.
- Fix the Errors: Based on the information from the Rich Results Test, you can take the necessary steps to fix the errors.
- Validate the Fix: Once you’ve fixed the errors, you can use the Rich Results Test to validate the fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are validation errors in structured data?
A validation error is a critical issue in your structured data that prevents it from being valid. This can be due to a missing required property, an invalid value for a property, or a syntax error in the code. Validation errors will make your page ineligible for rich results.
What is the difference between a validation error and a warning?
A validation error is a critical issue that must be fixed for your structured data to be valid. A warning is a suggestion for improvement that will not prevent your structured data from being valid, but may limit its effectiveness.
How can I find and fix validation errors?
The best way to find and fix validation errors is to use Google’s Rich Results Test. It will scan your page and identify any errors or warnings in your structured data, and it will provide guidance on how to fix them.
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