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    DiscussionForumPosting Schema Generator — Clarify Threads and Posts

    Generate valid DiscussionForumPosting JSON‑LD for threads and posts. Identify headline, author, publish date, and text; include engagement signals.

    Try the Discussion Forum Generator

    Why many forums underperform

    Pain points we solve

    • Threads lack structured headline/author/date/text, reducing clarity.
    • Engagement (commentCount, upvotes) is not represented in markup.
    • Q&A formats are misclassified; QAPage would be more appropriate.
    • Manual JSON‑LD falls out of sync with template and moderation changes.

    How SwiftSchema helps

    Solution

    The DiscussionForumPosting generator outputs a clean JSON‑LD block with headline, author (Person), datePublished (with timezone), and the main text body.

    It supports engagement fields like commentCount and InteractionCounter for likes/upvotes, and pairs well with QAPage for Q&A threads.

    How it works

    How it works

    1. Choose DiscussionForumPosting in the generator below.
    2. Enter headline, author name, datePublished with timezone, and the post text.
    3. Add the canonical post/thread URL and optional image.
    4. Include commentCount and interactionStatistic with userInteractionCount when available.
    5. Copy JSON or Script, paste into the post page, and validate in the Rich Results Test.
    Generate DiscussionForumPosting JSON‑LD

    Paste once per thread/post. Validate. Ship.

    What is DiscussionForumPosting structured data?

    DiscussionForumPosting describes forum threads or posts, capturing headline, author, publish date, content, and engagement metrics. It helps search engines understand which pages host community discussions, whether they resemble Q&A, general threads, or announcements. This markup complements QAPage and Review schema but is tailored for community-driven posts where multiple replies may exist without a single “best answer.”

    Essential properties

    1. headline
       — the thread title or post subject line.
    2. author
       — Person (user) or Organization (official announcements).
    3. datePublished
      /
      dateModified
       — ISO 8601 timestamps with timezone offsets.
    4. text
       — main body of the post (truncated or full; ensure it matches visible content).
    5. url
       — canonical thread/post URL.
    6. commentCount
       — number of replies (optional but useful).
    7. interactionStatistic
       — InteractionCounter for likes/upvotes/views.
    8. inLanguage
       — language code if the community is multi-lingual.
    9. image
       — optional; represent hero images or attachments (if safe).

    Content prep checklist

    • Ensure thread pages display a clear title, author, avatar, and date stamp.
    • Provide excerpts or full text of the initial post, with formatting that bots can parse (avoid heavy reliance on JS).
    • Make at least the first post publicly accessible; avoid gating entire threads behind login walls if you want indexing.
    • If threads include attachments or images, mention them in the content or via
      image
      .
    • Keep moderation notices (edited, locked) visible so structured data matches on-page indicators.

    Implementation workflow

    1. Identify the canonical thread/post page and ensure it renders server-side or with hydration-friendly markup.
    2. Generate DiscussionForumPosting JSON‑LD with headline, author, datePublished, text, URL, and engagement metrics.
    3. Embed the schema per thread/post. For multi-thread listing pages, include schema only when the full post content is visible.
    4. Add QAPage or Comment schema when relevant (e.g., when replies are Q&A style).
    5. Validate via Rich Results Test; monitor Search Console for “Discussion Forum” enhancements (if available).

    Handling replies and interactions

    • Use
      comment
      or
      commentCount
      to represent replies; each reply can be a Comment object with its own author and date.
    • Include
      interactionStatistic
      for like counts or view counts. Example: InteractionCounter with
      interactionType
      https://schema.org/LikeAction
      .
    • If your platform supports accepted answers, consider QAPage schema for those threads while still marking the thread with DiscussionForumPosting.

    Moderation and policy considerations

    • Keep content policies clear. If threads include medical or legal advice, ensure disclaimers match the content.
    • When editing or removing posts, update
      dateModified
      and consider adding
      isPartOf: ModerationNotice
      in content (no standard schema yet, but transparency matters).
    • Avoid embedding spammy or user-generated links in schema if they violate guidelines.

    Troubleshooting checklist

    • Missing timezone: always use ISO 8601 with offsets (e.g.,
      2025-09-02T14:05:00-05:00
      ).
    • Confusing formats: use QAPage for thread types with accepted answers; use DiscussionForumPosting for open discussions or general posts.
    • Invisible content: ensure search bots can access the post without authentication; provide fallback or SSR rendering.
    • Duplicate schema: avoid multiple DiscussionForumPosting blocks on the same page unless each represents a distinct thread with full content.
    • Inconsistent counts: keep
      commentCount
      and
      interactionStatistic
      synchronized with visible UI.

    Common Errors & Fixes

    • Missing timezone: provide full ISO timestamps with offsets.
    • Misclassified threads: use the appropriate schema (QAPage for Q&A, Review for product feedback).
    • Hidden content: ensure main post text is visible to crawlers.
    • No engagement data: add
      commentCount
      and
      interactionStatistic
      for richer context.
    • Stale dates: update
      dateModified
      when the post is edited; display the updated timestamp on-page.

    Required properties

    • headline
    • author.name
    • datePublished
    • text

    Recommended properties

    • url
    • image
    • inLanguage
    • commentCount
    • upvoteCount
    • interactionStatistic.userInteractionCount
    • isPartOf.name
    Minimal DiscussionForumPosting JSON-LD
    Validate
    {
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "DiscussionForumPosting",
  "headline": "Best practices for Product JSON-LD?",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Jordan"
  },
  "datePublished": "2025-09-02T14:05:00-05:00",
  "text": "What fields are essential for basic eligibility? Any pitfalls?",
  "url": "https://example.com/forum/structured-data/12345",
  "commentCount": 8,
  "interactionStatistic": [
    {
      "@type": "InteractionCounter",
      "interactionType": "https://schema.org/LikeAction",
      "userInteractionCount": 27
    }
  ]
}

    FAQs

    What is DiscussionForumPosting used for?Show
    It describes forum threads or posts with key details like headline, author, publish date, and the main text so search engines can better understand discussions.
    How do I represent replies and counts?Show
    Use `commentCount` for the number of replies and `interactionStatistic` for user interactions (such as upvotes).
    Should I use QAPage or DiscussionForumPosting?Show
    Use QAPage for question‑and‑answer formats with a single best answer. Use DiscussionForumPosting for general forum threads without a single accepted answer.
    Where should the markup live?Show
    Place it on the canonical thread page (or individual post page) that users and crawlers can access.

    Related types

    Browse all schema types

    References

    Generate Discussion Forum Posting schema

    Fill in page details, copy JSON or Script, and validate.

      Schema Type

      💬 Discussion Forum Posting Schema Generator

      Mark up forum threads with DiscussionForumPosting. Include headline, author, post body, and comments to qualify discussion content for improved presentation in search.

      Generated Schema

      Validate your schema here.