Which properties does Article schema use?
Google's documentation lists no required properties for Article structured data. Instead, it asks you to add as many recommended properties as apply to the page.
| Property | What it holds |
|---|---|
| headline | The article title, kept concise |
| author | A Person or Organization, with a name and a URL that identifies them |
| datePublished | When the article was first published, in ISO 8601 format |
| dateModified | When it was last meaningfully updated |
| image | One or more representative images |
Publishers also commonly add a publisher organization and a main-entity reference, which help tie the article to the site.
What does Article schema look like?
A simple JSON-LD example with placeholder values:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Example Article Title",
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Jane Doe",
"url": "https://example.com/authors/jane-doe/"
},
"datePublished": "2026-01-05",
"dateModified": "2026-02-05",
"image": "https://example.com/images/article.jpg"
}Why does it matter for PR and GEO?
Article markup ties content to an identified author and publisher, and gives machines clear dates and headlines. That supports entity resolution, because it connects a byline, a bio and an organization to the page. For earned media, thought leadership and executive bylines, it helps systems attribute expertise to the right person. No outcome is guaranteed, and Google treats the markup as a way to understand the page, not as a ranking switch.
How do you implement it?
- Choose the type. Use Article, NewsArticle or BlogPosting to match the content.
- Name a real author. Prefer an identified person with a bio page. If the URL is an internal profile page, Google recommends marking it up with profile page structured data.
- Add accurate dates. Set datePublished once, and update dateModified only when the content really changes.
- Match the visible page. The headline, author and dates should agree with what readers see.
- Link the author. Connect the author to verified profiles with sameAs.
- Validate. Test the markup, and monitor it in Search Console.
What are common mistakes?
- Marking the company as the author when a named person wrote the piece.
- Missing publisher or organization details.
- Dates in the markup that differ from the visible dates.
- Applying Article schema to pages that are not editorial content.
- Very long headlines that are cut off in some displays.
Frequently asked questions
What is Article schema?
A Schema.org type that marks up an article's headline, author, dates and image so machines can understand it.
Is Article schema required?
No. Google lists no required properties, but recommends adding those that apply.
What is the difference between Article, NewsArticle and BlogPosting?
They are related types. Use NewsArticle for news content and BlogPosting for blog posts, and Article for other editorial pages.
Should the author be a person or the company?
Both are allowed. A named person with a bio page gives clearer authorship, and the company can be the publisher.
Does Article schema help with AI citations?
It can make authorship and dates clearer to systems that read structured data. Evidence of a direct effect on AI citations is limited, so treat it as good practice.
Sources
Part of the 5W GEO Knowledge System · By the 5W Editorial Team, reviewed by a human editor before publication · Updated October 28, 2026