Software Schema

Software Schema

The Software schema is designed so that websites can detail information about software applications. This structured data format helps search engines understand and present software-related content effectively in search results.

Similar to implementing schemas for Events or Services, the Software schema requires providing search engines with detailed information about the software. When added to a webpage, it displays key information such as the software name, application category, operating system compatibility, and a brief description. This structured markup enhances the presentation of software in search results, giving users immediate and clear insights into the software features and requirements.

For software listings, the Software schema contains both essential and optional fields:

Mandatory Fields:

name: The name of the software or application.

applicationCategory: The type or category of the software (e.g., “Business”, “Multimedia”).

operatingSystem: The operating systems the software is compatible with.

Recommended Fields:

description: A summary or brief description of the software.

softwareVersion: The current version of the software.

softwareAddOn: Any add-ons or extensions available for the software.

softwareRequirements: Hardware or software requirements needed to run the software.

downloadUrl: A URL where the software can be directly downloaded.

screenshot: Images or screenshots showcasing the software’s interface.

offers: Details about purchasing or licensing options, including price.

Including both mandatory and recommended fields in the Software schema not only ensures the validity of the markup but also significantly increases user experience by providing detailed, useful information. This all-inclusive approach can positively affect the software’s search rankings and visibility, facilitating easier discovery and understanding for potential users.

Here is an example of Software schema looks like:

How to access Event schema using Rich Snippets

Access it from METAs – Rich Snippet – Software

Clicking on the “+” symbol will open up a panel where you can start editing and customizing your Schema Template.

A pop-up will appear

Add your data, a question and its answer.
Mandatory fields will have small red starlike symbol (*) added to them:

Description – best length is typically between one sentence and a short paragraph, around 50 to 150 words.

Operating system – indicates the required or supported operating system(s) on which a piece of software, application, or service is designed to run on, such as iOS, Windows, or others
Application Category – represents the classification or genre that a piece of software, application, or service falls into, based on its primary function or purpose, such as game/multimedia etc

Offers – is related to the commercial or transactional details for purchasing or using the software;  include information on pricing, licensing, trials, subscriptions, or any promotional offers. include information on pricing, licensing, trials, subscriptions, or any promotional offers.

Ensure that currency is added respecting the ISO 4217 format

Add review – rating system should be 1 to 5 stars, make sure to also include review text, author, and date. This helps in parsing and analyzing the data.

Adding image URLs helps with visual appeal, clarity, increases click-through rates, improves user experience, and boosts SEO visibility.

Make sure to click on Save

With this you have a Software schema set up. All there is left to do is check it up and see if it works as expected. This is easier than you imagine, and Squirrly will help with the steps.

Verify Markup

After saving your changes, you can verify that the Software schema markup has been added correctly by viewing the page or post source code. Look for the JSON-LD markup representing the Software schema.

1. Click on JSON-LD Code – Validate JSON-LD

2. A new page / tab will open you will get you test code, click on TEST CODE

3. A small pop-up appears, and you will have to wait a few moments for the data to be processed
4. Once data is processed, you will be able to see your work, test it, share it and use it to enhance your work.

For further details, we recommend referring to the following resources
Software Schema
Software app (SoftwareApplication) structured data

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