Schema @graph
Schema @graph is a JSON-LD structure that contains multiple schema entities in a single script tag, connected via @id references. It is the foundation of Structural Pressure.
@graph vs Separate Scripts
Many sites use multiple <script type="application/ld+json"> tags, each containing a single entity. This works but misses the opportunity to explicitly define relationships between entities.
The @graph approach uses a single script tag with an array of entities. Each entity has a unique @id, and other entities reference it by that @id instead of duplicating its properties. This creates an explicit entity network that search engines and AI models can traverse.
@id Linking
The power of @graph comes from @id references. For example, an Article entity references its author via "author": { "@id": "https://example.com/#author" } instead of repeating the full Person object. The Person entity with that @id is defined once in the @graph array and reused across all pages via Schema-Stitch.
Entity Network Benefits
- Disambiguation — @id references eliminate ambiguity about which entity is being referenced
- Efficiency — Entity properties are defined once and referenced everywhere
- AI readability — AI engines can traverse the entity network to build comprehensive understanding
Related Terms
- JSON-LD — The data format that @graph extends
- Schema-Stitch — Cross-page entity linking using @id
- Structural Pressure — The Pressure SEO pillar built on @graph