Validate your schema markup before publishing!
Validate Schema Markup →The Key Difference
"Schema marker" and "schema validator" are often confused, but they serve completely different purposes. Understanding the distinction is essential for proper SEO implementation.
What "Schema Marker" Usually Refers To
A schema marker is the implementation side – the actual structured data code you add to your pages. This is the marking up part.
Common schema marker formats:
- JSON-LD – JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data, the Google-recommended format. Usually embedded in the page header.
- Microdata – HTML attributes (itemscope, itemtype, itemprop) that mark up inline content.
- RDFa – Resource Description Framework in attributes, commonly used in semantic web applications.
When you add a schema marker to your page, you're telling search engines what type of content (Article, Product, Organization, Event, etc.) your page contains.
What a Schema Validator Actually Does
A schema validator is a testing tool – it checks whether your schema markers are properly formatted and follow the correct structure.
A validator answers questions like:
- Is my JSON-LD syntax valid?
- Am I missing required properties?
- Are there errors that search engines might not understand?
- Is my markup compliant with Schema.org standards?
- Will this schema produce rich snippets?
Validators help you catch mistakes before search engines do, preventing indexing issues and loss of rich snippets.
Key Differences (Concept vs Tool)
| Aspect | Schema Marker | Schema Validator |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Implementation / Code | Tool / Service |
| Purpose | Mark up content with semantic meaning | Check correctness and compliance |
| Action | You add it to your website | You use it to test your markup |
| Example | JSON-LD Article schema in page head | Google Rich Results Test or Schema.org validator |
Why Validation Is Critical for SEO
Simply adding schema markers isn't enough. Invalid or incorrect schema markup can:
- Cause search engines to ignore your structured data entirely
- Prevent rich snippets and enhanced search result features
- Generate crawl errors in Google Search Console
- Reduce click-through rates from search results
- Waste your SEO efforts on pages with broken markup
The best practice is simple: (1) Add your schema markers to your pages, then (2) Validate them to ensure they're correct.
Don't let schema errors hurt your SEO. Test your markup now with a free schema validator.
Validate Schema Markup →