HowTo schema

HowTo schema is the schema.org markup, type HowTo, that describes a set of instructions as an ordered list of steps together with the tools, supplies, time and cost the task takes. It lets a machine read the procedure as data instead of inferring it from prose.

What the type holds

On schema.org, HowTo is a CreativeWork whose defining property is step: each entry is a HowToStep, or a HowToSection that groups several. Around the steps sit tool for things used and kept, supply for things used up, totalTime as an ISO 8601 duration, and estimatedCost. A step can carry its own text, an image or a video, and a position number that fixes the order.

Google retired the rich result

Google announced in August 2023 that the HowTo rich result was being withdrawn, and by September 2023 it was no longer shown on desktop or mobile and the documentation for it had been removed. The markup therefore earns no search feature on its own. It still describes the page to any parser that reads it, and Google’s general rule for structured data still applies: mark up only what the visitor can see. The visible steps are what an AI assistant lifts when it answers a how-do-I question; the schema tells it the steps are steps.

HowTo or FAQPage

The two are chosen by the shape of the content. FAQPage holds independent question-and-answer pairs, each complete on its own. HowTo holds one task whose parts only make sense in sequence. A page that lists five things a customer asks is an FAQ. A page that walks through booking, preparing and what happens on the day is a HowTo, and splitting it into questions loses the order that made it useful.

A common question

How does a page decide between HowTo markup and FAQPage markup for its content?

The shape of the content decides. FAQPage fits independent question-and-answer pairs, each complete on its own, while HowTo fits one task whose parts only make sense in sequence. A page listing five things customers ask is an FAQ. A page walking through booking, preparing and what happens on the day is a HowTo, and cutting it into separate questions throws away the order that made it useful in the first place.

Sources

Type definition: schema.org/HowTo. Rich result status and the visibility rule: Google Search Central, changes to HowTo and FAQ rich results and introduction to structured data.