FAQ Schema

FAQ schema is structured data, using the schema.org FAQPage type, that tells search engines a page contains a list of questions with their answers. It once produced expandable question dropdowns in Google results for many sites, but since 2023 Google shows those rich results only for well-known, authoritative government and health websites.

Written by Paul Hoda, SEO consultant since 2005. Last updated 8 November 2026.

How FAQ schema works

FAQ schema is a type of schema markup.

You add it to a page, usually as JSON-LD, listing each question as a Question with an acceptedAnswer. The questions and answers must also appear in the visible page content. It is meant for pages where the site itself writes both the questions and the answers, not for forums where users submit answers.

What changed in 2023

In August 2023 Google announced it would limit FAQ rich results to well-known, authoritative government and health sites. For almost every other site, the dropdowns no longer appear in search results, even with valid markup. Google said the change was part of making results cleaner and more consistent.

Is it still worth using?

For most sites, FAQ schema will not create a visible rich result. There are still reasons some sites keep it:

  • It is harmless when it accurately matches the page, and Google has said unused structured data does not cause problems.
  • It describes content clearly in a machine-readable way, which other search engines and tools may read.
  • Some practitioners believe clear question and answer structure helps AI systems extract answers, though no AI platform has confirmed it uses FAQ markup specifically.

What matters more for answer engine optimisation is the visible content itself: clear questions as headings and direct answers underneath.

An example

A plumbing company might have a service page with a question such as: How long does a boiler service take? The visible answer sits directly below it as a short paragraph. The FAQPage markup repeats that question in the name property and the same answer text in the acceptedAnswer property. Nothing appears in the markup that a visitor cannot read on the page, and each answer stands on its own without needing the rest of the page for context.

How to add it properly

  1. Write genuine FAQ sections that answer real customer questions.
  2. Mark up only questions and answers that are visible on the page.
  3. Use one FAQPage block per page, rather than repeating the same FAQs sitewide.
  4. Validate the markup with the Rich Results Test or the Schema Markup Validator.

Common mistakes

  • Marking up content that is hidden or not on the page.
  • Using FAQ schema for advertising or promotional copy rather than genuine answers.
  • Expecting rich results to return after adding markup to a non-eligible site.
  • Confusing FAQPage with QAPage, which is for user-generated question and answer pages.

Key Takeaways

  • FAQ schema marks up questions and answers written by the site itself.
  • Since August 2023 Google shows FAQ rich results only for authoritative government and health sites.
  • Marked-up questions and answers must be visible on the page.
  • Accurate FAQ markup does no harm, but do not expect a rich result.
  • Clear visible questions and direct answers matter more for AI search than the markup.

Related Terms

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