Rich snippet: definition, types and implementation
Updated on February 22, 2026
Quick definition
A rich snippet is an enhanced search result displayed in the SERP that presents additional visual information directly under the title and meta description: review stars, prices, recipe images, Q&A items or events. It stands out from standard results thanks to structured data (Schema.org) implemented in the page's code, and significantly improves the click-through rate (CTR).
How it works
Rich snippets (or enriched results) are generated by Google when it detects valid structured data in a page's HTML, marked up using the Schema.org vocabulary.
The main types of rich snippets supported by Google are:
- Reviews and ratings: yellow stars with average score and number of reviews
- Recipes: image, preparation time, calories
- Products: price, availability, ratings
- Events: date, location, ticket price
- FAQs: collapsible Q&A items below the result
- How-To: steps of a procedure
- Videos: thumbnail and duration
Concrete example: a recipe page implementing `Schema.org/Recipe` with the `cookTime`, `recipeYield` and `nutrition` properties will see its result enriched with a photo, preparation time and calorie count.
This enriched result can multiply its CTR by 2 to 3 compared to a standard result in the same position.
Why it matters
Rich snippets are a significant competitive advantage in the SERP: a result with review stars or a recipe image naturally captures more attention than a standard text result.
Studies show that rich snippets can increase CTR by 20 to 30% depending on the type. They also allow you to occupy more visual space — FAQs can take up 3 to 5 times more space than a standard result — reducing the visibility of competitors.
- A product rich snippet can display price and availability without the user clicking
- FAQ snippets capture space even at position 4 or 5
- Review stars create an immediate trust signal
How to improve or use it
- 1Identify the relevant structured data type for your content (product reviews, recipes, FAQs, events).
- 2Implement the Schema.org markup in JSON-LD (Google's recommended format).
- 3Validate your implementation with Google's Rich Results Test (search.google.com/test/rich-results).
- 4Monitor the 'Enhancements' report in Google Search Console to detect errors and track which rich snippets are active.
With Sublim
Sublim lets you measure the concrete impact of your rich snippets on organic traffic: compare the CTR and engagement of pages with active rich snippets against those appearing as standard results. This real behavioural data — cookieless and GDPR-compliant — helps you prioritise implementation efforts based on their return on investment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between rich snippet, featured snippet and position zero?
A rich snippet is a standard organic result enhanced visually thanks to structured data (stars, images, prices). A featured snippet (position zero) is a separate box placed above the organic results that directly answers a question by extracting text or a table from a page. These are two distinct mechanisms: the first requires structured data, the second requires well-structured content that clearly answers a question.
Does implementing structured data guarantee rich snippets?
No. Implementing valid structured data is necessary but does not guarantee that a rich snippet will be displayed. Google decides at its discretion whether or not to display enriched results based on content quality, query policy (some queries never trigger rich snippets) and compliance with its guidelines. Incorrect or manipulative structured data can, on the contrary, lead to manual penalties.
Which format should you use for structured data: JSON-LD or Microdata?
Google officially recommends JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) because it is easy to maintain (the markup is separate from the HTML), easy to read and validate, and does not require modifying the existing HTML structure. Microdata (inline HTML attributes) is still supported but less practical. RDFa is also supported but rarely used. For new sites, systematically choose JSON-LD.
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