Dataset schema
A published dataset, with its distribution, licence and temporal coverage.
Where to use it
Data download pages, statistics pages.
A complete example
Valid as written, with every required property and the recommended ones that carry real information.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Dataset",
"name": "Acme Reference",
"description": "A one sentence description that restates its own subject.",
"distribution": {
"@type": "DataDownload",
"encodingFormat": "text/csv",
"contentUrl": "https://www.seoforsolos.com/data/example.csv"
},
"license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"creator": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "A Real Person"
},
"temporalCoverage": "2026-01-01/2026-12-31",
"variableMeasured": "Indexed URLs"
}Generate a Dataset node with your own values in the schema generator, and lint what your page actually ships with the schema validator.
Properties
| Property | Status |
|---|---|
name | Required |
description | Required |
distribution | Recommended |
license | Recommended |
creator | Recommended |
temporalCoverage | Recommended |
variableMeasured | Recommended |
The three mistakes this type attracts
- 01Omitting distribution, which makes the data unreachable.
- 02A license URL that does not resolve.
- 03Describing a single table on a page as a dataset when it is not published as one.
Related types
Where this appears in the playbook
- Structured data: what each type is for and which ones earned their place.
- The schema graph: composing types into one graph with stable identifiers.
- One JSON-LD script per page, holding one @graph
- Stable @id anchors that cross-reference rather than duplicate
- Optional fields are omitted, never emitted as empty strings
- Does schema markup work? What 42 types on one site actually did: which of these types measurably did anything in production.
Questions
What is the Dataset schema type for?
A published dataset, with its distribution, licence and temporal coverage. Use it on: data download pages, statistics pages.
Which Dataset properties are required?
Dataset requires 2 properties: name, description. It also recommends 5: distribution, license, creator, temporalCoverage, variableMeasured.
Does Dataset produce a rich result?
Dataset is eligible for a Google rich result when its required properties are present and valid. A validation error therefore has a visible cost in the search result itself.
What is the most common Dataset mistake?
The most common Dataset mistake is: Omitting distribution, which makes the data unreachable.