A semantic structure also suitable for LLMs
Description
Semantic HTML structure is the orchestration of the right tags to clearly define the meaning and hierarchy of content (header, nav, main, article, section, footer).
It makes it easier for search engines to understand content and improves accessibility.
A clear semantic structure helps search engines better interpret and rank content.
Why is this important for ai search?
A clear semantic structure greatly facilitates content analysis for LLMs by providing them with a logical framework for understanding the organization of information.
LLM models can better identify important sections, extract contextual information, and maintain consistency in their citations.
This increases the accuracy of generated answers and the quality of references to the source content.
Technical details
- Use and diversity of HTML5 tags
- Hierarchy and logical nesting of semantic tags
- Uniqueness of the <main> and <header> tags
- Relevance of links in the <nav> tag
1. Use and diversity of HTML5 tags
The use of semantic HTML5 tags is fundamental to structuring content in a meaningful way, not only for browsers, but also for traditional search engines and generative AI engines. These tags help crawlers understand the meaning and hierarchy of different parts of your page.
- Key Tags: Make sure to use tags like <header>, <footer>, <main>, <nav>, <article>, <section>, <aside>, and <figure> appropriately. Each tag has a specific meaning that enriches the understanding of the content.
- <header>: Represents the introductory content or a group of navigational elements.
- <footer>: Represents the footer of a document or section.
- <main>: Represents the dominant content of the <body> of a document.
- <article> : Represents self-contained, independent content, such as a blog post or a comment.
- <section> : Represents a generic section of a document, often with a title.
- <nav> : Represents a section of navigation links.
- <aside> : Represents content that is indirectly related to the main content of the document.
- <figure> and <figcaption> : For images, illustrations, diagrams, etc., with their captions.
2. Hierarchy and logical nesting of semantic tags
A well-defined HTML hierarchy and logical nesting of semantic tags are crucial for the structural clarity of your page. This allows AI engines to better analyze and extract relevant information.
- Consistent structure: Organize your tags logically, respecting the parent-child relationship. For example, an <article> can contain multiple <section>, and each <section> can have its own heading (<h2>, <h3>, etc.).
- Heading order: Use heading tags (<h1> to <h6>) hierarchically and sequentially. There should only be one <h1> per page, representing the main title of the content.
3. Uniqueness of <main> tags and <header>
Certain semantic tags are designed to represent single, main sections of a document. Their correct use is essential to avoid confusion for search engines and accessibility tools.
- Only one <main> per page: The <main> tag should be used only once per page and should contain the single, main content of the document. It should not include repeated content such as site headers, footers, sidebars, or logos.
- Only one main <header> per page: Although a page can have multiple <header> elements, each element must be used once per page. (e.g., a <header> for an <article>), there should only be one main <header> that represents the overall heading of the document. This <header> typically contains the site logo, the main navigation, and the site title.
4. Relevance of links in the <nav> tag
The <nav> tag is specifically designed to group main navigation links. It is important to ensure that only navigationally relevant links are included in this tag.
- Relevant navigation links: The <nav> tag should only contain links that are essential to the site's main navigation (e.g., links to categories, main pages, contact, etc.). Avoid including non-navigational links, such as social media links or advertisements.
- Clarity of Navigation: Clear, well-structured navigation helps users and bots understand the organization of your site and discover important content.
Resources & useful links
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