Review Schema Markup: Eligibility, Examples, and Common Errors

Review structured data describes review content that is already visible on a page. It does not make a testimonial true, turn an ineligible subject into an eligible one, or guarantee stars in search results. Google decides whether a rich result appears even when markup is valid.

Check the reviewed item and page

• The page is primarily about one identifiable item or a legitimate list of reviewed items.
• The reviewed item uses a type supported by Google's current review snippet documentation.
• The review text or aggregate rating represented in JSON-LD is visible to visitors.
• The rating scale, value, count, author, and reviewed item agree with the displayed content.
• The page follows general structured-data policies and is indexable.
• The markup does not present an organization's self-selected reviews about itself as an eligible self-serving organization rating.

Google currently documents eligible review snippet types such as Product, SoftwareApplication, Book, Course, Event, Movie, Recipe, and selected CreativeWork types. LocalBusiness and Organization have additional restrictions around self-serving reviews. Always check the current documentation before implementation because supported features and policies can change.

JSON-LD example for one visible software review

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Review",
  "itemReviewed": {
    "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "name": "Example Workspace",
    "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
    "operatingSystem": "Web"
  },
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Avery Chen"
  },
  "datePublished": "2026-07-12",
  "reviewBody": "The visible review text shown on this page.",
  "reviewRating": {
    "@type": "Rating",
    "ratingValue": "4",
    "bestRating": "5",
    "worstRating": "1"
  }
}
</script>

This is a syntax pattern with fictional names, not a real review. A live implementation must use the actual item, author, date, text, and score shown to visitors.

JSON-LD example for an aggregate rating

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Example Desk Lamp",
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.4",
    "reviewCount": "87",
    "bestRating": "5",
    "worstRating": "1"
  }
}
</script>

The visible page should show the 4.4 score, 87-review count, scale, reviewed product, and access to the underlying review information. Do not copy an aggregate from another platform unless the use, licensing, and structured-data policies permit it.

Common implementation errors

Release checklist

1. Validate vocabulary and syntax in Schema.org Validator.
2. Test Google feature eligibility in Rich Results Test.
3. Compare rendered text and JSON-LD values.
4. Inspect a production URL after deployment.
5. Monitor Search Console enhancement reports where available.
6. Retest after template or data-source changes.

Sources and tools

• Google Search Central: Review snippet structured data
• Google Rich Results Test
• Schema.org Validator