How To Fix “data-vocabulary.org schema deprecated” Error in Webmaster

As Google has announced that we are going to end up the support for structured data scheme “data-vocabulary.org” from April 6, 2020!

With the increasing usage and popularity of https://t.co/hGrr8MSS40 we decided to focus our development on a single scheme. As of April 6, 2020, https://t.co/N98EXBIRJ6 markup will no longer be eligible for Google rich result features. Read more at https://t.co/n8qsmdLgxE pic.twitter.com/JIg9yqMxRB

— Google Webmasters (@googlewmc) January 21, 2020

Reason Behind This Action!

Google said, “With the increasing usage and popularity of schema.org, we decided to focus our development on a single SD (Structured Data) scheme.”

Google is giving SEOs, webmasters, and site owners a few months of time to switch from “data-vocabulary.org” markup to “schema.org” markup. In fact, over the next few months, Google will notify those who do not follow Google guidelines specific to structured data schema.

So, before jumping on the issue let’s take a look at basics…

What is Structured Data?

Google uses standardized formats of structured data and shared schemes to provide information about a page and the things described on that page.

These are used for two main purposes.

• understand the content of the page
• Enable special search result features and enhancements

What is Data-vocabulary.org Schema?

Google’s “Data Vocabulary” project was an important milestone in the development of Web-based structured data, as it led to our collaboration with other search engines to create schema.org. However, it is now very outdated and it is generally preferable to use more widely shared vocabulary from Schema.org. Therefore data-vocabulary.org markup will stop being eligible for Google search result features and enhancements.

Please note that this is the only consequence of this change. Pages using data-vocabulary schema will remain valid for all other purposes. In order to be eligible for Google rich result features, we recommend converting your data-vocabulary.org structured data to schema.org.

Let’s come to the point…

As a preparation for this change, Google Search Console has issued warnings for pages using the data-vocabulary.org schema so that you can prepare for the same. This will allow you to easily identify pages using that markup and replace the data-vocabulary.org markup with schema.org.

You can avoid such notices from Google by using the below solution…

For Example,

Previously Used Structured Data – “data-vocabulary.org”

<div itemscope itemtype=”https://data-vocabulary.org/Breadcrumb”>

<a href=”https://example.org/shoes” itemprop=”url”>

<span itemprop=”title”>Shoes</span>

</a>

</div>

<div itemscope itemtype=”https://data-vocabulary.org/Breadcrumb”>

<a href=”https://example.org/shoes/leather” itemprop=”url”>

<span itemprop=”title”>Leather Shoes</span>

</a>

</div>

What it shows!

Test this in Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool

Solution

Updated Structured Data – “schema.org”

<ol itemscope itemtype=”https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList”>

<li itemprop=”itemListElement” itemscope itemtype=”https://schema.org/ListItem”>

<a itemprop=”item” href=”https://example.org/shoes”>

<span itemprop=”name”>Shoes</span></a>

<meta itemprop=”position” content=”1″ />

</li>

<li itemprop=”itemListElement” itemscope

itemtype=”https://schema.org/ListItem”>

<a itemprop=”item” href=”https://example.org/shoes/white”>

<span itemprop=”name”>White Shoes</span></a>

<meta itemprop=”position” content=”2″/>

</li>

</ol>

See it’s error-free!

Please Note: Above structured data sample is for your reference only. The actual error may vary as per your business and website technology. So you can take genuine help of SEO professional to fix such technical issues…

After successful validations, update the code on your website and test it again using Structured Data Testing Tool and click on “Validate Fix” from your website’s Google Search Console > Breadcrumbs to request Google to recrawl your website for updated Schema Breadcrumbs. (See the screen)

Conclusion

It is advisable to update the structured data scheme using the given solution with the required changes as per the plugins you are using for the structured data schemes.

You can note that the JSON-LD Schema.org structured data format is the preferred option when it comes to popularity.

If your Breadcrumbs are part of a plugin or a theme you are using, you can contact them for an update to get this issue fixed.

If you find any complications fixing such issues, you can contact KrishaWeb SEO Team (or just put your confusion in below comment box) for technical SEO help to switch in schema.org structured data scheme.

Additionally, you can witness the discussions on “data-vocabulary.org schema deprecated” error on different technology platforms through below threads…

data-vocabulary.org schema deprecated causing warning on GSC – Drupal

data-vocabulary.org schema deprecated – WordPress

In Magento change data-vocabulary to schema.org – Magento