Definition
The breadcrumb is a secondary navigation element that displays the site hierarchy as a path: Home > Category > Subcategory > Current page. It helps users understand their position within the site architecture and navigate to higher levels. For SEO, breadcrumbs improve internal linking and can be displayed in Google search results through Schema.org BreadcrumbList markup. They promote better understanding of the site structure by search engines.
Key Points
- Improves navigation and user experience
- Strengthens internal linking and Google's understanding of hierarchy
- Displayable in SERPs via BreadcrumbList schema
Practical Examples
E-commerce
An e-commerce site displays the breadcrumb: Home > Clothing > Men > Shirts, allowing the user to easily navigate back up through categories.
Schema BreadcrumbList
Adding JSON-LD BreadcrumbList markup makes the breadcrumb appear in Google results, replacing the raw URL with a readable path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it improves internal linking, helps Google understand the site structure, and can be displayed in search results. It's a simple but very beneficial element.
Add JSON-LD BreadcrumbList markup with the page hierarchy. Google will then display it in search results instead of the raw URL.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07