Google has officially replaced its structured data testing tool with a new navigational landing page to direct you to either Google’s rich results test tool or the Schema.org schema markup validator tool.
You can see the new landing page over here. Here is a screenshot:
The Schema.org tool. In May 2021, Schema.org published its own schema markup validator tool at validator.schema.org. This was the replacement for Google’s legacy structured data testing tool. The markup validator helps you validate the structured data on your site that is used for general purposes, outside of the Google rich results testing tool.
Why Google made the change. Google initially launched its structured data testing tool in 2015 and then, in 2017, the company launched the rich results testing tool. In July 2020 Google moved the rich results testing tool out of beta and with that announcement, the company said it would deprecate its structured data testing tool.
After backlash from the industry, Google decided to move the structured data testing tool from Google’s property to Schema.org. Then in May 2021, Schema.org published its very own tool. Today, Google replaced its own tool with this new landing page.
Differences between Google and Schema.org. Google’s rich results testing tool is designed to show you only the Google-supported structured data schema. But the Schema.org markup validator is more for “general purpose” and aimed at helping you debug many more structured data types, well beyond the Google supported ones. The Schema.org tool is designed to validate all Schema.org-based structured data that’s embedded in web pages, without Google feature-specific warnings.
Rich results tool. The rich results tool will be on Google’s own site, designed and maintained with the purpose of showing you Google Search rich result types. Google said, “to test your markup for Google Search rich result types, you can continue to use the Rich Results Test.” You can also preview how rich results can look in Google Search.
Why we care. In case you are wondering where the old Google structured data testing tool went, now you know. You can now use Schema.org to test generic structured data or Google’s rich results tool to test Google-supported structured data. Of course, Google Search Console has tons of reporting for your structured data as well.
About The Author
Barry Schwartz a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry’s personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.