How long is the displayed description in a Google course list?

Definition: Google Search Central documents a display limit of 60 characters for the required Course.description property in course list structured data. The limit describes the course description used by the course list feature.

Key facts

• Google's course list documentation identifies description as a required property and gives it a display limit of 60 characters.
• The property has the type Text in Google's supported property table.
• The same table defines the value as “A description of the course.”
• Google says course list markup provides details such as the course name, the person or organization offering it, and a short description.
• Google requires markup for at least three courses. The courses may use separate detail pages or one all-in-one page.
• Schema.org's Course definition describes a course as an educational course that can be offered through different media or modes of study.

What does the 60-character limit apply to?

The limit applies to the description property of each Course item in the course list markup. It is a display limit documented in Google's property table, so it answers how much of this field the course list feature is documented to display. It is not a stated limit for the full text of the course page.

Google places description among the required properties for a course list rich result. The table lists name as another required property and defines it as the title of the course. It lists provider as a recommended property whose value identifies the organization that publishes the course content.

How does the field fit the Course type?

Schema.org lists description as a property whose expected type is Text or TextObject, with the description “A description of the item.” The Google course list documentation narrows the relevant implementation to a text description for a Course and documents the 60-character display limit.

Schema.org defines Course as an educational course that can be offered as distinct instances at different times or locations, or through different media or modes of study. Its definition also describes a course as a sequence of one or more educational events or creative works intended to build learners' knowledge, competence, or ability. This gives the markup field a schema meaning, while Google's documentation supplies the feature-specific display rule.

What should the markup contain?

Keep the description in the Course object and make it a concise description of that course. Google's example uses a JSON-LD Course object with a description, name, and provider:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Course",
  "name": "Introduction to Computer Science and Programming",
  "description": "Introductory CS course laying out the basics.",
  "provider": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "University of Technology - Eureka",
    "sameAs": "https://www.example.com"
  }
}

The page says the full definition of Course is available at Schema.org. It also says to validate structured data with the Rich Results Test and fix critical errors. The course list requirements include markup for at least three courses, and the courses can be on separate detail pages or on an all-in-one page.

Is anything else specified about longer descriptions?

The Google page states the 60-character display limit, but it does not describe in that section how a longer value is shortened or how characters are counted. Keep the source value focused on the course description and treat the documented figure as the display limit.

Related terms

• How many courses does Google's course list feature require?
• What must be left out of a course name in Google's markup?
• How is the course provider identified in course list markup?

FAQ

What is the documented display limit?

Google's course list property table states that Course.description has a display limit of 60 characters.

Is description required for a Google course list?

Yes. Google lists description under the required properties for Course in its course list structured data documentation.

What type does Schema.org expect for description?

Schema.org lists Text or TextObject as the expected type for description and describes it as a description of the item.

Sources

1. Google Search Central, "Course list (Course) structured data", 8 September 2026
2. Schema.org, "Course", undated

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