Which identifier should be used for a vacation rental property?

Definition: Google's VacationRental.identifier is a property-level value that uniquely identifies the vacation rental. It stays independent of listing content and remains the same for that listing in different languages, according to Google's VacationRental documentation.

Key facts

• Google lists identifier among the required properties for VacationRental structured data and gives its type as Text.
• The value is a unique identifier for the property.
• The value must stay unchanged when the owner changes the listing name or number of bedrooms.
• The same value must be used for the same listing in different languages.
• Schema.org defines identifier as a property for identifiers of any Thing and allows Text or PropertyValue values, as described in its identifier property documentation.

What does Google require from the value?

Google's table places identifier in the required properties for VacationRental. The field is typed as Text, and its description is “A unique identifier for the property.” Use one value that identifies the property itself. A listing name or bedroom count describes content that can change, so it cannot be the stable identity value Google describes.

The page gives this JSON-LD fragment in its example:

"identifier": "abc123",

The example shows a text value. Google does not name a particular database system, numbering scheme, or prefix, so the implementation choice remains with the property data owner as long as the documented constraints hold.

How should the identifier behave when content changes?

Treat the identifier as an identity field for the property. Google's additional guideline says it must be independent of listing content. The documentation specifically says that it will not change when the property owner updates the listing name or number of bedrooms. A change to either field therefore leaves identifier unchanged.

The same rule applies across language versions. Google's documentation requires the same identifier for the same listing in different languages. A translated page can change its visible name and description while retaining the property value used by the other language pages.

Is this the same as the general Schema.org identifier property?

Schema.org describes identifier broadly: it represents any kind of identifier for any kind of Thing, with examples including ISBNs, GTIN codes, and UUIDs. The property can be represented by textual strings or URL or URI links, and Schema.org lists PropertyValue and Text as expected types.

Google's VacationRental table narrows the field shown in this integration to Text. For this markup, use a text value such as the documented abc123 example. A structured PropertyValue may be meaningful in general Schema.org data, but Google's VacationRental field description specifies Text.

How can the markup be checked?

Google says to add the required properties, follow its guidelines, and validate the code with the Rich Results Test. After deploying pages, use the URL Inspection tool to test how Google sees them. The page also says that the URL must be accessible to Google and must not be blocked by a robots.txt file, a noindex tag, or login requirements.

For a multilingual set of listings, inspect each language page and compare the rendered identifier values. The required cross-language rule is satisfied when pages for one listing carry the same value, while separate properties carry their own unique values.

Related terms

• Schema.org @id
• How should several structured data items on one page be connected?

FAQ

Can the identifier change when the listing name changes?

No. Google's guideline makes the identifier independent of listing content and gives an updated listing name as an example of a change that leaves the identifier unchanged.

Should each language version have a translated identifier?

No. Google requires the same identifier for the same listing in different languages.

Does Google prescribe a UUID or URL format?

The VacationRental documentation specifies a Text field and shows abc123 as its example. It leaves the particular text format to the implementation.

Can Schema.org represent an identifier as a structured value?

Yes. Schema.org lists PropertyValue and Text as expected types for the general identifier property. Google's VacationRental field is documented as Text.

Sources

1. Google Search Central, "Vacation rental (VacationRental) structured data", 8 September 2026
2. Schema.org, "identifier", 16 September 2026

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