# FAQ schema

Category: [Structured Data & SERP Features](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/structured-data-serp-features/) › [Schema types](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/structured-data-serp-features/schema-types/) · Also known as: FAQPage markup · Historical

**FAQ schema**, also called FAQPage markup, is a schema.org type that describes a page with a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. Google used it for expandable questions below a search result. That rich result is no longer shown.

## What is the status today?

In August 2023 Google announced that FAQ rich results would only be shown for well-known, authoritative government and health websites. For other sites the result would no longer appear regularly. Google said there was no need to remove the markup proactively and that unused structured data causes no problems for Search but has no visible effect.

Google's documentation updates later list the end of the feature. A notice from May 8, 2026 says the FAQ rich result no longer appears in Google Search starting May 7, 2026. On June 15, 2026 Google removed the documentation for the feature, stating that it is no longer shown in search results.

Guides that recommend FAQ markup to win rich results in Google are out of date.

## What remains?

The vocabulary itself still exists. According to schema.org, a FAQPage is a WebPage presenting one or more frequently asked questions, and the type is used on 1 to 10 million domains, based on Google's web index (August 2026). Typical markup lists the questions in `mainEntity`, each as a `Question` with an `acceptedAnswer`. Google's documentation does not say whether existing markup should be removed.

## Example

```html
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "How long does shipping take?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "Shipping takes two to three business days within the US."
    }
  }]
}
</script>
```

## Frequently asked questions

**Is FAQ schema still relevant?** For Google's results page it has no visible effect anymore. The visible questions and answers on the page remain useful to readers.

**Is Google removing FAQ schema?** Google removed the FAQ rich result from search results as of May 7, 2026 and has taken down its documentation.

**What does FAQ stand for?** Frequently asked questions.

## At a glance

- **Format:** structured data using schema.org (JSON-LD, Microdata or RDFa)
- **Where:** in the HTML of the page, for JSON-LD in a <script type="application/ld+json">
- **Vocabulary:** schema.org type FAQPage with Question and Answer
- **Rich result:** no longer shown in Google Search since May 7, 2026
- **Status:** rich result retired, Google documentation removed on June 15, 2026
- **Docs:** [Google: Search Central changelog](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#deprecating-the-faq-rich-result-feature)

Last checked: October 8, 2026

## Retired search features and rich results

- **September 5, 2014:** Google introduces the improved sitelinks search box. It sends queries straight to the site's own search pages. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2014/09/improved-sitelinks-search-box))
- **August 23, 2016:** Google announces it will remove the “mobile-friendly” label from mobile results, as 85% of pages already meet the criteria. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2016/08/helping-users-easily-access-content-on))
- **January 21, 2020:** Google announces the end of data-vocabulary.org. Markup in this format is to lose rich result eligibility from April 6, 2020. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2020/01/data-vocabulary))
- **October 30, 2020:** Google moves the end of data-vocabulary.org support to January 29, 2021. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#october-2020))
- **November 10, 2020:** Google announces that from May 2021, non-AMP pages will also be eligible for the mobile Top Stories feature. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2020/11/timing-for-page-experience))
- **April 19, 2021:** New timing from mid-June 2021. AMP is then no longer required for Top Stories, and Google stops showing the AMP badge. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2021/04/more-details-page-experience))
- **July 18, 2023:** Google removes the related: search operator from its documentation, as it is no longer supported. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#july-2023))
- **August 8, 2023:** Google limits FAQ rich results to well-known government and health websites. How-to rich results are shown on desktop only. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/08/howto-faq-changes))
- **September 13, 2023:** How-to rich results are no longer shown on desktop either. Google calls the result type deprecated. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/08/howto-faq-changes))
- **October 13, 2023:** Google removes the host group element from its visual elements gallery, as it no longer appears in search results. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#october-2023))
- **April 17, 2024:** Google removes the guidance for the limited-access video carousel after the markup proved not useful at scale. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#removing-video-carousel-limited-access-documentation))
- **August 9, 2024:** The Notes experiment, which let users add notes to search results, has ended. Google removes its documentation. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#notes-gone))
- **September 24, 2024:** The cache: search operator no longer works. Google removes its documentation. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#cache-docs))
- **October 2, 2024:** The cached link is no longer available in search results. Google keeps noarchive only as a historical rule. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#removing-noarchive))
- **October 21, 2024:** Google announces that it will remove the sitelinks search box worldwide from November 21, 2024. Other sitelinks remain. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2024/10/sitelinks-search-box))
- **November 29, 2024:** Google removes the sitelinks search box documentation and archives the nositelinkssearchbox rule. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#bye-sitelinkbox))
- **January 23, 2025:** Mobile search results no longer show breadcrumbs in the visible URL, only the domain. They remain on desktop. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2025/01/simplifying-breadcrumbs))
- **June 12, 2025:** Google announces it will phase out several structured data features, including Book Actions, Course Info, ClaimReview, Estimated Salary, Learning Video, Special Announcement and Vehicle Listing. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2025/06/simplifying-search-results))
- **September 9, 2025:** Google removes the documentation for course info, estimated salary, learning video, special announcement and vehicle listing. These types no longer appear in results. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#simplification))
- **November 5, 2025:** Google phases out the practice problem and dataset types in Search. For Book Actions, Google withdraws the deprecation notice. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#simplification-nov))
- **May 7, 2026:** FAQ rich results no longer appear in Google Search. Google announced this in its changelog entry of May 8, 2026. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#deprecating-the-faq-rich-result-feature))
- **June 15, 2026:** Google removes the documentation for the FAQ rich result. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#removing-faq-rich-result))
- **July 1, 2026:** Google now sends users directly to AMP pages on the publisher's own host. The AMP viewer, AMP Cache and signed exchanges are no longer involved. ([Source](https://developers.google.com/search/updates#updating-amp-documentation))

## Related terms

- [FAQ page](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/faq-page/index.md)
- [Structured data](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/structured-data/index.md)
- [JSON-LD](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/json-ld/index.md)
- [Schema.org](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/schema-org/index.md)
- [Rich results](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/rich-results/index.md)
- [HowTo schema](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/howto-schema/index.md)
- [Schema Markup Validator](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/schema-markup-validator/index.md)

## Sources

- [FAQPage – schema.org](https://schema.org/FAQPage)
- [Latest documentation updates – Google Search Central (8 May and 15 June 2026)](https://developers.google.com/search/updates)
- [Changes to HowTo and FAQ rich results – Google Search Central Blog, 08.08.2023](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/08/howto-faq-changes)
- [Introduction to structured data markup – Google Search Central](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/intro-structured-data)

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Last updated: October 8, 2026
URL: https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/faq-schema/
