In Google Search Console, “Breadcrumbs” has two meanings:
1. A navigation aid for users:
- This refers to the small trail of links on a website that show you where you are within the site’s hierarchy.
- Just like breadcrumbs in the Hansel and Gretel story, they help users track their navigation path and understand the site structure.
- While Google Search Console doesn’t directly interact with this user-facing element, they provide resources on how to implement effective breadcrumbs on your website.
2. A type of structured data:
- This refers to code you can add to your website to explicitly tell search engines like Google the hierarchy of your pages.
- This structured data is called
BreadcrumbList. - Google Search Console has a specific report dedicated to showing you any issues with your breadcrumb markup, helping you ensure it’s implemented correctly.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
User-facing Breadcrumbs:
- Helps users navigate your website.
- Not directly managed in Google Search Console.
- Google provides resources on best practices.
Structured Data Breadcrumbs:
- Code implemented on your website to communicate hierarchy to search engines.
- Google Search Console report identifies issues with your
BreadcrumbListmarkup.
