The Digital Press

Microformats are a set of simple, standardized HTML markup conventions introduced around 2005 to embed semantic metadata directly into web pages, enabling software to reliably extract and process data like contacts, events, and geographic coordinates.

Why it matters: Microformats make web data machine-readable without complex parsing, supporting search engines and applications in better indexing and data reuse.

The big picture: They promote a grassroots, low-barrier approach to semantic web data, complementing other standards like RDFa and microdata, and remain supported by major search engines as of 2024.

Design principles: Microformats emphasize simplicity, reuse of existing HTML patterns, and compatibility with current web practices to encourage broad adoption and backward compatibility.

Commenters say: Users appreciate microformats’ ease and practical benefits but note the need for updates beyond 2010 and some accessibility concerns, calling for renewed community engagement.