Schema markup validator vs rich results test – What’s reliable?

Do you know? According to the Schema survey, almost 40% of respondents from small to large companies use schema markup validators. This significantly helps them make their websites’ content visible and ranked on search engines. Various structured data validation tools exist, but discussing the schema markup validator vs. rich results test will help us understand the most reliable for implementing on a website. 

Search engines use powerful algorithms to operate and feed data and information, but they are nowhere near like humans in terms of reading, identifying, and identifying content. We as humans can effortlessly do this, but when it comes to search engines, they require different data validation tools to analyse and understand the meaning of your website’s content and pages. 

This blog comprehensively focuses on structured data, schema markup validator, and rich results test, how they differ, and which is best for implementation. 

What is structured data?

Structured data is referred to as the data, information, or content that is written, organised, and designed in a way to be easily readable by both humans and machines. Its vocabulary is often called schema markup. Structured data is mainly used for rich results, improved click-through rates, and a better understanding of content. Different tags and attributes are used to add structured data to a particular website’s HTML code.

Types of structured data

Here are the different types of structured data:

• Articles
• Blog Posts
• Products
• Recipe
• Event
• Local Business
• Job Posting
• Organisations
• Videos
• FAQ Pages
• How-to Guides

How is structured data tested?

The structured data in a website is tested using different markup tools that read, understand, and analyse the content and efficiently evaluate its quality and effectiveness. The schema markup validator and rich results test are the most popular structured data testing tools. After going through their differences, you can choose which suits your requirements. 

What is a schema markup validator?

According to Schema, the Schema Markup Validator is a state-of-the-art tool for validating and testing embedded and structured website content according to Schema.org guidelines. It helps users ensure that their website’s schema follows all the formats and rules understandable and readable by search engines. The collaboration of Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Yandex has developed it. Moreover, it supports JSON-LD, RDFa, and Microdata formats. 

Features of schema markup validator

Here are the key features of the schema makeup validator:

• All Scheme Types: It supports all schema types, whether they are recognised by Google or not. 
• Open-Source Nature: It is open-source. It is not only limited to Google but encompasses different search engines. 
• Data Compliance: It helps users ensure their data complies with the Schema’s guidelines and vocabulary. 
• Identifies Errors: It effortlessly identifies errors and allows users to fix them immediately. 

Uses of schema markup validator

Here are the uses of the schema markup validator:

1. To validate structured data

The prime use of a schema markup validator is to validate structure data. It thoroughly analyses JSON-LD, RDFs, and microdata and checks if it is correctly implemented on your website. This helps search engines understand your content better. 

2. To detect errors

It also helps users detect errors in structured data. It detects errors, warnings, and different missing points and allows them to be corrected efficiently. This significantly propels search engines to read, review, and understand your content correctly. 

3. To improve SERP features

The schema markup validator also helps improve SERP features such as knowledge panels, FAQ sections, and product carousels. This significantly helps increase website engagement, leads, and click-through rates. 

4. To enhance SEO performance

Another use of schema markup validator is to enhance SEO performance. It significantly helps increase the visibility of content and search engine pages that have rich snippets, such as event time, star ratings, and product details. 

5. To test changes

It also significantly allows for testing changes before the schema’s deployment. Before deployment, the scheme could have various errors that could significantly compromise results. So, the schema is tested in a development environment to ensure everything is correct. 

How to use schema markup validator?

Here are the essential steps to use schema markup validator efficiently:

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the schema markup validator. 
• Step 2: Paste the link of your website on the webpage to check its validity. You’ll get the validation results. 
• Step 3: Thoroughly review those results to see if there are any errors or warnings. 
• Step 4: Take precautionary measures and steps to fix those highlighted issues and ensure that the website complies with Schema.org guidelines. 

What is the rich results test?

A rich results test is defined as a tool that significantly helps to understand which of a website’s content and pages is eligible for rich results on the search engine. It usually includes more visually enhanced search results with more insights and information than typical search results. This unique SERP feature allows users to enable particular schema types on their website. The rich results test commonly shows images, videos, products, pricing, and votes. 

Features of rick results test

Here are the key features of the rich results test:

• Visual Preview: It provides a visual preview of how data and information will appear in search results efficiently. 
• Eligibility Checks: It also allows users to check whether their structured data is eligible for rich result features. 
• Supports Google: It only tests and validates Google-supported structured data. 
• Multiple Platforms: It supports various platforms, such as mobile and desktop. 

Uses of rich results test

Here are the uses of the rich results test:

1. To validate structured data for rich results

The primary use of rich results tests is that they help to validate structured data for rich results. It scrupulously reviews the JSON-LD, RDFa, and Microdata to see that they are correctly implemented and eligible for rich results, such as FADs, reviews, and product listings. 

2. To test across different platforms

Another use of rich results tests is to test structured data on different platforms. It helps users check if the data is adequately implemented on their website, according to mobile phone and desktop versions. 

3. To preview rich results

Rich results tests are also used to preview rich results. When you search a page or content on the search engine using this, it provides a visual preview of everything. It significantly helps users understand how structured data impacts search presentation. 

4. To identify errors

Another use of rich results tests is that they efficiently detect errors, missing links, content, or warnings in structured data. Consequently, they help fix these issues and make your website and pages eligible for rich results. 

5. To improve SE visibility

Users also use rich results tests to improve their website’s search engine visibility. These tests efficiently monitor the structured data and confirm that it is optimised. As a result, the website becomes more visible in search engines, leading to higher engagement. 

How to use rich results test?

Here are the essential steps to use schema markup validator efficiently:

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the rich results test. 
• Step 2: Paste your website link to check whether it is relevant to Google. You’ll instantly get all the results.
• Step 3: Review these results and check if there are any omissions or errors. 
• Step 4: Address those issues efficiently and adhere to all Google search-related guidelines. You’ll be able to make structured data suitable for rich results. 

10 differences between schema markup validator and rich results test

Above, we have discussed the schema makeup validator, the rich results test, their key features, uses, and the steps to use them efficiently. Now, it’s time to highlight how they differ. If you struggle to choose one from them, you’re in the perfect place. Thoroughly review and understand these differences to select which suits your requirements efficiently. 

Difference 1: Purpose

The first difference between schema markup validators and rich results text is their purpose. Schema markup validator ensures that structured data follows schema.org’s guidelines and vocabulary. On the other hand, the rich results test focuses on whether the structured data complies with Google-related guidelines. 

Difference 2: Scope

The second difference is the scope. The schema markup validator doesn’t care if a scheme is recognised by Google or not, as it supports all schema types. However, the rich results test only supports those schemas supported by Google for rich results. 

Difference 3: rich results review

The next difference is the rich results preview. As you know, only rich results text provides an excessive and rich preview of the content on the search engines, while schema markup validator doesn’t support such a feature. 

Difference 4: Error reporting

The fourth difference is the error reporting. Schema markup validator detects errors, issues, and warnings that generally companies with Schema. On the other hand, the rich results test only highlights and detects issues that are specifically related to Google/u2019s. 

Difference 5: Usage

The next difference in the list is the usage of a schema markup validator and a rich results test. The schema markup validator is valuable and applicable for creating and validating all structured data types. However, according to Google/v2019s, the rich data test only focuses on improving structured data. 

Difference 6: Flexibility

The sixth difference between the schema markup validator and the rich results test is flexibility. Schemas markup validator efficiently recognises all custom or less common schema types, while the rich results test is restricted to predefined schema types of Google/u2019s. 

Difference 7: Supported platforms

Another difference is that of supported platforms. As schema markup validator is a collaboration among Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo, it goes beyond Google; however, rich results data is exclusively limited to the Google search engine. 

Difference 8: Output detail

The output details can also be different in the schema markup validator and rich results test. The schema markup validator checks and provides an output on all structured data elements, while the rich results test can only give an output of specific elements that can significantly impact rich results. 

Difference 9: Tool ownership

There is also a difference between the tool ownership of the schema markup validator and the rich results test. The schema markup validator is mainly owned and managed by Schema.org, an open-source platform, while Google primarily owns and operates the rich results test. 

Difference 10: Testing environments

The last difference between schema markup validator and rich results test in the line is their testing environment. The schema markup validator is usually known for broader schema vocabulary implementations, while the rich results test is specially developed according to Google/u2019s vocabulary implementations. 

Which tool is better for structured data testing?

Deciding which tool is better for structured data attesting depends entirely on your specific requirements and goals. The schema markup validator and rich results test are exceptional tools for structured data testing, but they have different purposes. By efficiently comparing those purposes and usage, you can evaluate which one is the best as compared to the other. 

This table compares the purposes of the schema markup validator and rich results test. If you require comprehensive validation, for instance, if you want to validate all scha types and want to target search engines beyond Google, you should go for schema markup validation. 

However, if you want to modify and optimise your website for increased engagement and visibility on Google Chrome. In other cases, you can also use both tools to optimise your structured data and make it compliant and versatile for top-tier search engine performance. 

Conclusion

In this blog, we have extensively explored what structured data, schema markup validator and rich results test are, their key features, and how they are used. We also compared the schema markup validator vs. the rich results test. 

After discussing the key differences between the schema markup validator and the rich results test, we got to know that both of these tools are very strong and efficient for structured data testing. However, both of them service different purposes. The schema markup validator is all-encompassing and concerned with all schema types, while the rich results test only concerns schemas recognised by Google. 

If you’re also looking for an efficient tool to check the validity of your website, it’s entirely up to you to select, as you are aware of how schema markup validator and rich results test differ. So, select the best tool for your website and enhance your website engagement and visibility efficiently. 

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