How to check schema markup of a website

The fastest way to check schema markup is using Google's Rich Results Test (previously called Structured Data Testing Tool). Go to search.google.com/test/rich-results, paste your website URL or HTML code, and run the test. It shows you exactly which schema types are detected, whether they're valid, and flags any errors or warnings. This tool specifically checks for schema that Google can use for rich results—things like recipes, products, articles, and reviews. If you're checking a live page, the crawler needs to be able to access it (not blocked by robots.txt), and it takes a minute or two to process.

For more detailed schema information, use Schema.org's validator or the JSON-LD playground. Paste your HTML directly into these tools to see all structured data on the page, not just the types Google prioritizes for rich results. You can also inspect the page source directly—right-click, view page source, and search for "schema" or look for `<script type="application/ld+json">` tags. Most modern websites use JSON-LD format, which is cleaner and easier to read than older microdata formats. Pay attention to whether the schema is properly closed, nested correctly, and includes all required properties for that schema type. Missing required fields often cause validation errors.

For auditing multiple pages or checking historical changes, SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz include schema markup detection in their site audits. These tools crawl your entire site and flag pages with missing, broken, or incorrectly implemented schema. They're particularly useful when you're managing multiple client websites and need consistent reporting. However, these tools typically show you what schema is present—they don't always explain *why* it matters or suggest improvements.

When checking a client's site, remember that schema markup not being detected doesn't always mean it's missing—it might be dynamically loaded with JavaScript. Google's Rich Results Test handles some JavaScript rendering, but older validators don't. If you see schema in the page source but not in the test results, check if JavaScript is adding or modifying the markup after page load. This is increasingly common with WordPress plugins and headless CMS setups.