Google Maintains Commitment to Structured Data Despite Select Deprecations

In a November 5 2025 blog post on the Google LLC Search Central site, the company clarified that it will continue to support structured data broadly — even as it phases out certain lesser-used types starting in January 2026.

Background

Structured data — markup using standards such as those published by Schema.org — helps search engines better understand the content of web pages and may enable enhanced search-result presentations (“rich results”).

In recent years, Google has removed or simplified support for a number of structured-data types. For example, in June 2025 Google deprecated seven schema types including CourseInfo, EstimatedSalary, LearningVideo, SpecialAnnouncement and VehicleListing.

What’s Changing

According to the November 2025 update, Google will:

• Remove support in Search Console and its API for the PracticeProblem structured-data type starting January 2026.
• Clarify that the Dataset structured-data type is used exclusively for Google’s Dataset Search product and not for regular Google Search results.
• Continue to display other still-supported structured data types and rich result features.

As Google explained:

“We’re constantly working to simplify the search results page… Through this process, we’ve identified some features that aren’t being used very often and aren’t adding significant value to users.”

Google emphasises that “for most searches, you likely won’t notice a major difference — most of these features didn’t trigger often and weren’t interacted with much by users.”

Analysis & Implications

The announcement serves several functions. On one level, it clarifies that Google is not abandoning structured data wholesale — only retiring certain types. The broader ecosystem of markup remains relevant. On another level, the change signals a prioritisation: Google is focusing resources on structured-data types and rich-result features that deliver measurable value (in terms of user engagement or fulfilment of intent) and cleaning up features that under-perform or are rarely triggered.

For website owners and SEO practitioners, the following considerations arise:

• If a website uses the PracticeProblem markup, it should expect that starting January 2026 the related rich-result display and Search Console reporting will cease. Audit such implementations sooner rather than later.
• For Dataset markup, publishers should note that the benefit is limited to Dataset Search; such markup will not trigger enhanced presentation in general Google Search results.
• Structured-data types still supported should remain part of a modern SEO strategy, particularly where they deliver clear value (for example FAQ, HowTo, Product, Review, Recipe schema).
• The update reinforces the importance of focusing on high-quality content and well-structured site architecture, rather than relying solely on markup to trigger rich features.

It’s noteworthy that this adjustment is modest in scale compared to prior deprecations (e.g., the June 2025 removal of seven types) — suggesting that Google views structured data as still central, but wishes to streamline peripheral or under-utilised types.

Conclusion

Google’s updated documentation reflects an ongoing evolution: structured data continues to play an important role in helping search engines interpret web content, but not all markup types are equal in value or usage. By phasing out low-impact schema types and refining guidance, Google is signalling a shift from “more markup” to “better markup” — aligning support with features that deliver measurable benefit to users and website owners alike.