SoftwareApplication Schema Missing

Issue No: 235

Category: Structured Data & Rich Results

Issue type: Issue

Priority: IMPORTANT

Description

SaaS or app product pages are missing SoftwareApplication schema, preventing display of ratings, pricing, and OS compatibility in Google rich results.

How do we capture it

• Detect app/SaaS pages via URL patterns (/app, /software, /product) or app store links
• Check JSON-LD for SoftwareApplication, MobileApplication, or WebApplication
• If absent → trigger issue

What to store

StructuredDataAudit record with schemaType = SoftwareApplication (or detectedSubtype = WebApplication etc.), issueNumber = 148, plus StructuredDataField rows:

Field	Type	Comment
has_os	boolean	operatingSystem declared
has_category	boolean	applicationCategory declared
has_download_url	boolean	downloadUrl or app store link present
has_rating	boolean	aggregateRating nested in block

Core audit fields used: isPresent, hasName, hasDescription, rawJson

Condition for trigger

• Trigger Rule 1: Schema absent on app page
  • Target Field: isPresent
  • Evaluation Logic: isPresent = false AND page identified as software/app product page
  • Severity: IMPORTANT
  • Diagnostic Message: "App or SaaS product page detected but no SoftwareApplication schema found."

Sources

• Schema.org — SoftwareApplication
• Google — Software App Structured Data

Long description

Subtypes: SoftwareApplication (desktop), MobileApplication (iOS/Android), WebApplication (SaaS/browser-based), VideoGame.

Common applicationCategory values: BusinessApplication, DeveloperApplication, EducationApplication, FinanceApplication, GameApplication.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "WebApplication",
  "name": "Example SEO Tool",
  "operatingSystem": "All (Web-based)",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "price": "49.00", "priceCurrency": "USD" },
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.6",
    "reviewCount": "512"
  }
}

How to Fix

1. Choose correct subtype (WebApplication for SaaS, MobileApplication for native)
2. Declare operatingSystem and applicationCategory
3. Declare pricing — even for free apps ("price": "0")
4. Add aggregateRating if you have real user reviews
5. Keep softwareVersion updated on releases