BreadcrumbList structured data

Definition: BreadcrumbList structured data describes an ordered chain of pages in a website hierarchy using the Schema.org vocabulary. Each step identifies a page through properties such as its name, URL and position in the trail.

Key facts

• As of 17 October 2026, Google's breadcrumb documentation describes breadcrumb search results as available on desktop in all regions and languages where Google Search is available.
• Schema.org's BreadcrumbList definition uses the position property to reconstruct the order of the pages in a trail.
• Google's introduction to structured data specifies that markup belongs on the page it describes and concerns content visible to users.

Which hierarchy does a breadcrumb describe?

A breadcrumb trail expresses a path through a site's sections. Google's breadcrumb guidelines recommend a typical user path to the page rather than a reproduction of its URL structure. Including the site's domain as a separate step is optional, as is including the current page.

The same documentation illustrates a fictional book award page with the trail Books > Science Fiction > Award Winners. It also permits multiple trails for a single page: its alternative route is Literature > Award Winners. These examples describe different paths to the same content.

What does the markup contain?

Google's property definitions require a BreadcrumbList containing at least two ListItem objects. A ListItem represents an individual step, and the itemListElement array groups those steps into the trail. The integer position starts at 1.

JSON-LD is a structured data format embedded in an HTML script element. The following code reproduces the structured data from Google's fictional book award example:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
  "itemListElement": [{
    "@type": "ListItem",
    "position": 1,
    "name": "Books",
    "item": "https://example.com/books"
  },{
    "@type": "ListItem",
    "position": 2,
    "name": "Science Fiction",
    "item": "https://example.com/books/sciencefiction"
  },{
    "@type": "ListItem",
    "position": 3,
    "name": "Award Winners"
  }]
}
</script>

Here, name supplies the breadcrumb title and item supplies the page URL. The final step omits item; Google uses the containing page's URL for that step. Google also permits an object identifying the page through @id; when that object supplies a name, a separate breadcrumb-level name is optional.

Google's format guidance recommends JSON-LD when the site's setup allows it. Its Search Central documentation defines the required properties for Google Search behavior; Schema.org supplies the broader vocabulary.

How is the implementation checked?

Google's implementation procedure calls for validation with the Rich Results Test and correction of critical errors. After deployment on a few pages, the URL Inspection tool checks how Google sees the page. Access must allow Google to reach the content, including through any robots.txt rules, indexing directives or login restrictions.

After indexing, the relevant rich result status report in Search Console identifies invalid items. The same documentation recommends checking these reports after template or code changes, when previously valid markup can break.

Related terms

• Structured data
• JSON-LD
• Microdata

FAQ

Does every breadcrumb need a URL?

Google's breadcrumb property reference allows you to omit item on the final step. Google then uses the URL of the containing page.

Can the trail omit the homepage?

Yes. The same documentation makes a breadcrumb for the site's domain or host name optional. You can represent the typical path through relevant sections without adding that step.

Can one page have multiple trails?

Yes. Google's example gives the same fictional Award Winners page a route through Books and Science Fiction, and another through Literature. You can describe multiple paths when the site's structure provides them.

Sources

1. Google Search Central, "Breadcrumb (BreadcrumbList) structured data", updated 8 September 2026
2. Schema.org, "BreadcrumbList", undated
3. Google Search Central, "Introduction to structured data markup in Google Search", updated 10 December 2025

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