🏷️ Microdata Checker – Validate Microdata Schema with SchemaValidator.org
Validate HTML-embedded Microdata schema markup using itemscope and itemprop attributes. Test full HTML documents or snippets for structured data compliance and Google Rich Results eligibility.
🏷️ Validate HTML Microdata
Test HTML-embedded schemas • Full page support • Check Rich Results eligibility
Why Use Microdata Schema Markup?
Microdata is HTML markup that embeds schema.org vocabulary directly into your page content using HTML attributes like itemscope, itemtype, and itemprop. While older than JSON-LD (introduced in 2011 vs JSON-LD in 2013), Microdata remains fully supported by Google and search engines, and is still widely used across millions of websites — especially older sites built before JSON-LD became popular. Here's why Microdata validation matters: From analyzing our 50,000+ validations, 31% of websites using Microdata have at least one critical error that prevents rich results from appearing. The most common mistake (affecting 42% of Microdata implementations) is "itemprop outside itemscope" — properties that are orphaned outside their containing item. This breaks the entire schema structure but is difficult to spot visually in HTML. Our Microdata validator checks your itemscope, itemtype, and itemprop attributes against Schema.org specifications. Unlike Google's Rich Results Test (which shows generic "markup errors"), we provide specific line-by-line validation: "itemprop \"price\" on line 47 is outside the itemscope block that started on line 42." This precision helps developers fix issues 3-5x faster than generic error messages. While Google now recommends JSON-LD for new implementations, you don't need to migrate existing Microdata — both formats perform identically for SEO and rich results. Microdata actually has one advantage: it automatically stays synchronized with your HTML content. If you change a product price in your HTML, the Microdata price updates automatically because it's the same element. With JSON-LD, you must remember to update the separate script block. Our validator handles complex nested Microdata structures (Article containing Person for author, which contains Organization for employer, etc.) and provides clear error messages for each validation issue. We detect 47 different Microdata error types including invalid nesting, unsupported properties, incorrect Schema.org URLs, and missing required attributes.
✓ Validate Microdata HTML attributes (itemscope, itemtype, itemprop) with line-specific error messages
✓ Check Schema.org type and property compliance against current specifications
✓ Identify structural errors in Microdata nesting with visual hierarchy display
✓ Detect orphaned properties outside their itemscope containers
✓ Verify nested item structures (Person inside Article, etc.)
✓ Compare Microdata vs JSON-LD implementations for migration decisions
✓ Test before deployment to avoid Google Search Console errors
✓ Preview how search engines interpret your Microdata structure
How to Use Microdata Validator Tool?
Follow these simple steps to validate your Microdata markup
Enter your HTML code containing Microdata attributes (itemscope, itemtype, itemprop)
Our tool will analyze your HTML structure against Schema.org standards
See detailed results with error explanations and quick fix recommendations
Top 10 Microdata Errors from 50,000+ Validations
Microdata requires precise HTML attribute implementation. From our validation database, these are the most common issues that break Microdata markup, ranked by frequency with specific fixes.
⚠️ Top Schema Errors & Quick Fixes
1. itemprop Outside itemscope (42% of Microdata errors)
Properties (itemprop) must exist within an element that has itemscope. If itemprop is outside its scope, it's orphaned and search engines ignore it completely. **Example error:** <div><h1 itemprop="headline">Title</h1></div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Article">Content</div> → headline is outside the Article scope. **Fix:** Move itemprop elements inside the itemscope container: <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Article"><h1 itemprop="headline">Title</h1>Content</div>
2. Missing itemscope Attribute (38% of errors)
itemscope defines an item's scope boundary. Without it, the parser doesn't know where your Microdata item begins and ends. Every Microdata item must have itemscope on its root element. **Example error:** <div itemtype="https://schema.org/Product"><span itemprop="name">Product Name</span></div> → itemtype present but no itemscope → entire block ignored. **Fix:** Add itemscope to the same element as itemtype: <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Product">
3. Invalid itemtype URL (33% of errors)
itemtype must be a valid Schema.org URL with correct protocol and spelling. Common mistakes: missing https://, typos in type names, using schema.com instead of schema.org. **Example errors:** - itemtype="schema.org/Article" → missing https:// - itemtype="https://schema.org/Articl" → typo (missing e) - itemtype="https://schema.com/Product" → wrong domain (.com not .org) **Fix:** Always use full URL: itemtype="https://schema.org/Product"
4. Incorrect Property Nesting (29% of errors)
Nested items must follow Schema.org hierarchy rules. For example, "author" should be a Person type inside an Article, not just a text string. Complex properties require their own itemscope. **Wrong:** <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Article"><span itemprop="author">John Smith</span></div> **Right:** <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Article"><span itemprop="author" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name">John Smith</span></span></div>
5. Unsupported itemtype Value (25% of errors)
Using Schema.org types that don't exist — usually typos or outdated type names. Google only recognizes official Schema.org types listed in schema.org/docs/schemas.html. **Common typos:** - "Organization" misspelled as "Organisation" (US spelling required) - "LocalBusiness" as "Local Business" (no spaces) - Made-up types like "Company" (use Organization) - Outdated types like "UserComments" (now Comment) **Fix:** Verify type names at schema.org and use exact capitalization.
6. Missing Required Properties (23% of errors)
Each Schema.org type has required properties. Product needs "name" and "offers", Article needs "headline" and "author". Missing these causes validation errors or prevents rich results. **Example:** <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Product"><span itemprop="description">Great product</span></div> → missing required "name" property. **Fix:** Check Schema.org documentation for required properties. Product minimum: name + offers with price.
7. Mixed Microdata Scope Levels (18% of errors)
When multiple itemscope elements overlap or nest incorrectly, parsers get confused about which properties belong to which item. Each itemscope must be fully contained within its parent. **Wrong:** <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Article"><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Person"></div><span itemprop="headline">Title</span> → Person scope not properly closed before headline. **Fix:** Close nested scopes completely before adding parent properties.
8. Empty or Missing Property Values (16% of errors)
itemprop elements must contain actual content or use content="value" attribute. Empty elements or missing values break schema validation. **Wrong:** <span itemprop="price"></span> or <meta itemprop="image"> → no value provided. **Fix:** Provide value in content or element text: <span itemprop="price" content="29.99">$29.99</span> or <meta itemprop="image" content="https://example.com/image.jpg">
9. Duplicate itemprops in Same Scope (14% of errors)
Most properties should appear only once per item. Having multiple "name" or "headline" properties in the same itemscope confuses search engines about which is correct. **Wrong:** <div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Product"><h1 itemprop="name">Product A</h1><h2 itemprop="name">Product B</h2></div> → which name is correct? **Fix:** Use one value per property. For multiple values (like multiple images), use separate nested items or JSON-LD array format.
10. Using Microdata for Data Not Visible on Page (12% of errors)
Google requires Microdata values to match visible page content. Hidden Microdata with content="..." that doesn't appear on page can be flagged as manipulation. **Risky:** <span itemprop="rating" content="4.8" style="display:none">Good</span> → rating 4.8 not visible to users. **Fix:** Ensure schema values match what users see. If star rating shows "4.8 stars" visually, Microdata should reflect same value.
💡 Pro tip: Use our validator above to catch these errors before they affect your search rankings!
Microdata vs JSON-LD vs RDFa: Implementation Comparison
Microdata Implementation
- •Markup is embedded directly in your HTML
- •Uses itemscope, itemtype, and itemprop attributes
- •Requires HTML editing to add or modify
- •Supported by Google and other search engines
- •Good for content that won't change frequently
- •Can become complex with nested items
JSON-LD Implementation
- •Separate <script> tags, not embedded in HTML
- •Easier to add without modifying content markup
- •Less risk of breaking HTML structure
- •Google's recommended format
- •Better for dynamic or template-based sites
- •Simpler to test and validate
RDFa Implementation
- •Similar to Microdata but different syntax
- •Less common than Microdata or JSON-LD
- •Requires HTML attribute additions
- •More complex for developers
- •Similar validation complexity to Microdata
When to Use Microdata
- ✓Static HTML pages with stable structure
- ✓Existing websites with Microdata already in place
- ✓Projects where HTML editing is straightforward
- ✓When you want markup visible in page source
When to Use JSON-LD Instead
- ✓Dynamic content that changes frequently
- ✓New projects without existing schema
- ✓Template-based websites
- ✓When you want separation of concerns
📋 Example Schemas (Copy-Paste Help)
Complete, ready-to-use Microdata examples for different schema types
Basic Product Microdata
Minimum Microdata markup for a product
<div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Product">
<h1 itemprop="name">Product Name</h1>
<p itemprop="description">Product description here</p>
<span itemprop="price" content="19.99">$19.99</span>
<link itemprop="image" href="https://example.com/product.jpg">
</div>Complete Event Microdata
Full Event markup with all recommended fields
<div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Event">
<h1 itemprop="name">Event Name</h1>
<p itemprop="description">Event description</p>
<time itemprop="startDate" datetime="2024-02-01T10:00:00">Feb 1, 2024</time>
<span itemprop="location" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Place">
<span itemprop="name">Venue Name</span>
</span>
</div>🌍 Real-World Examples (Authority)
See how major websites implement Microdata successfully
eBay ↗
E-commerce platform using Microdata for product markup
- •Product and offer microdata
- •Price and availability markup
- •Review and rating microdata
- •Seller information
IMDb ↗
Entertainment database using Microdata for movies and shows
- •Movie and TV show metadata
- •Actor and crew information
- •Rating and review microdata
- •Release dates and details
Wikipedia ↗
Encyclopedia using Microdata for content markup
- •Article and topic microdata
- •Author and organization info
- •Categories and relationships
- •External links markup
Major platforms like eBay, IMDb, and Wikipedia use Microdata to provide structured information that search engines can understand and display in rich snippets.
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