What is JSON-LD and why is it the standard for Schema markup?
JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) is a lightweight, standardized data format used to encode structured data on web pages. It is officially endorsed by Google, Microsoft, and the W3C as the preferred method for implementing Schema.org markup. Historically, webmasters used Microdata or RDFa, which required wrapping HTML elements with cumbersome inline attributes. JSON-LD solves this by allowing you to inject a clean, independent `<script type="application/ld+json">` block directly into your page's `<head>`. This separates your structured data from your visual HTML, making it significantly easier to generate, maintain, and audit without breaking your website's layout.