Use HowTo structured data to explicitly tell Google that your content is a how-to. A
how-to walks users through a set of steps to successfully complete a task, and can feature video,
images, and text. For example, “How to tie a tie” or “How to tile a kitchen backsplash”. If each step
in your how-to must be read in sequence, it's a good sign that HowTo structured
data could benefit your content. HowTo structured data is appropriate when the how-to
is the main focus of the page.
Properly marked up how-to pages may be eligible to have a rich result on Search and an Action on the Google Assistant, which can help your site reach the right users.
Feature availability
How-to rich results are currently available in all languages and countries where Google Search is available. The feature is only available on mobile devices, not desktop.
Examples
Here are some examples of how your content may appear in How-to rich results. A more visual variant may be displayed if your how-to contains an image of the completed how-to and an image per step. Make sure to add as many required and recommended properties as possible so your how-to can be most effectively represented in Google Search.
Standard How-to rich result
Here's an example of a text based how-to page using JSON-LD. The example only has one image that represents the final state of the how-to. In this result, users may see a preview of the content for some steps.
Here's an example of a text based how-to page using Microdata. The example only has one image that represents the final state of the how-to. In this result, users may see a preview of the content for some steps.
How-to rich result with images for each step
Here's an example of a how-to page with images for each step using JSON-LD. When there's an image for each step, users may see a preview with a carousel of images.
Here's an example of a how-to page with images for each step using Microdata. When there's an image for each step, users may see a preview with a carousel of images.
How-to rich result with video
Here's an example of a how-to page that contains a mix of text, images, and video clips using JSON-LD.
Here's an example of a how-to page that contains a mix of text, images, and video clips using Microdata.
Guidelines
For your page to be eligible for How-to rich results and a How-to Action for the Google Assistant, you must follow these guidelines:
- General structured data guidelines
- Webmaster guidelines
- Content restrictions policy for Actions on Google
- How-to content guidelines
Content guidelines
- Advertising: Don't use
HowTostructured data for advertising purposes. - Ineligible Content: How-to rich results may not be displayed if the content is obscene, profane, sexually explicit, or graphically violent; or if it promotes dangerous or illegal activities or has hateful or harassing language.
- Source: All
HowTocontent must be visible to the user on the source page. The how-to should be the main focus of the source page. Don't include more than oneHowTofor a certain page. - Materials and Tools: Add structured data to all materials and tools necessary to complete the task.
- Steps: Each
HowToStepmust include the entire contents of the source step. Don't mark up non-step data such as a summary or introduction section as a step. - Step images: If the steps are best represented visually, ensure the images
in these steps are marked up for each
HowToStep. Only mark up the instructional step images that are specific for each step and don't use the same image in multiple steps for the same how-to. Use the same images that correspond to the content on your page. Don't use images that don't reflect the how-to content, or use different images to optimize the rich-result. - Final image: If the end result can be accurately described by an image,
ensure this image is present on the page, and your
HowTomarkup includes it using theimageproperty. This image may be the same as the one marked up for the last step. - Content: Don't use
HowTomarkup for recipes. Recipes should use theRecipe structured datainstead. Articles and general advice content that is not a specific set of instructions are not appropriate forHowTomarkup.
Structured data type definitions
You must include the required properties for your content to be eligible for display as a rich result. You can also include the recommended properties to add more information to your structured data, which could provide a better user experience.
To validate and preview your structured data, use Google’s Rich Result Test .
HowTo
The full definition of HowTo is available at
schema.org/HowTo.
The HowTo type indicates that the page contains a how-to. There
must be one HowTo type definition per page.
| Required properties | |
|---|---|
name |
The title of the how-to. For example, "How to tie a tie". |
step |
HowToStep or HowToSection
An array of
An array of |
| Recommended properties | |
|---|---|
description |
A description of the how-to. |
estimatedCost |
MonetaryAmount or Text
The estimated cost of the supplies consumed when performing instructions. |
image |
ImageObject or URL
Image of the completed how-to. Additional image guidelines:
|
supply |
HowToSupply or Text
A supply consumed when performing instructions or a direction. |
tool |
HowToTool or Text
An object used (but not consumed) when performing instructions or a direction. |
totalTime |
Duration
The total time required to perform all instructions or directions (including time to prepare the supplies), in ISO 8601 duration format. |
video |
VideoObject
A video of the how-to. Follow the list of required and recommended
Video properties. Mark steps
of the video with |
video.hasPart
|
A video clip that is part of the entire video. |
video.hasPart.endOffset
|
The end time of the clip expressed as the number of seconds from the beginning of the video. |
video.hasPart.name
|
The name of the clip. For example, "Pull and tighten" could be the name of the clip that shows how to pull and tighten a tie. |
hasPart.startOffset
|
The start time of the clip expressed as the number of seconds from the beginning of the video. |
video.hasPart.url
|
A link to the start time of the clip. The start time must match the value set in
"startOffset": 30, "endOffset": 45, "url": "http://www.example.com/example&t=30" |
HowToSection
The full definition of HowToSection is available at
schema.org/HowToSection.
The HowToSection type defines a section of a single how-to and
contains one or multiple steps. Don't use HowToSection to define different solutions
to complete a task; instead, use HowToSection as part of a single solution. For listing
multiple ways to complete a task, use multiple HowTo objects. For example,
multiple ways to change a flat tire are listed as multiple HowTo objects, not
HowToSection objects.
| Required properties | |
|---|---|
itemListElement |
HowToStep
A list of detailed steps for the section. |
name |
Text
The name of the section. |
HowToStep
The full definition of HowToStep is available at
schema.org/HowToStep.
The HowToStep type defines the simple textual step in a how-to, and may
include an image.
| Required properties | |
|---|---|
itemListElement |
HowToDirection or HowToTip
A list of detailed substeps, including directions or tips. Optional if |
text |
Text
The full instruction text of this step. Optional if
|
| Recommended properties | |
|---|---|
image |
ImageObject or URL
An image for the step. Additional image guidelines:
|
name |
Text
The word or short phrase summarizing the step (for example, "Attach wires to post" or "Dig"). Don't use non-descriptive text (for example, “Step 1: [text]”) or other form of step number (for example, "1. [text]"). |
url |
URL
A |
video |
VideoObject or Clip
A video for this step or a clip of the video. For |
HowToSupply, HowToTool
The full definitions of HowToSupply and HowToTool are available at
schema.org/HowToSupply and
schema.org/HowToTool.
HowToSupply and HowToTool are used to complete the HowTo.
They have the same required and recommended properties.
| Required properties | |
|---|---|
name |
Text
The name of the supply or tool. |
| Recommended properties | |
|---|---|
image |
ImageObject or URL
An image of the supply or tool. Additional image guidelines:
|
HowToDirection, HowToTip
The full definitions of HowToDirection and HowToTip are available at
schema.org/HowToDirection and
schema.org/HowToTip.
Use HowToDirection and HowToTip to describe directions or tips.
They have the same required and recommended properties.
| Required properties | |
|---|---|
text |
Text
The text of the direction or tip. |