Microformats – building blocks for data-rich web pages
3 days ago
- #microformats
- #structured-data
- #web-development
- Microformats 2 (mf2) is used to mark up profiles, posts, events, and other data on personal sites.
- To parse mf2 data, choose a parser from available libraries or use online tools like php-mf2 sandbox or pin13.net.
- When fetching and parsing mf2 data, ensure the parser uses the effective URL for correct relative URL resolution.
- Store raw HTML and derived data for future re-parsing, but skip intermediate canonical JSON to save space.
- Parsed mf2 data contains 'items' (top-level structures), 'properties', and 'children' (nested structures).
- Property values in mf2 can be plain strings, embedded HTML, img/alt structs, or nested microformats.
- Always handle property values flexibly—never assume a specific format (e.g., plaintext vs. HTML).
- Use helper functions to extract plaintext, HTML, or image URLs from mf2 properties safely.
- For nested microformats, handle cases where expected structures may be missing or replaced with alternatives.
- Leverage existing algorithms (e.g., authorship, representative h-card) for common mf2 consumption tasks.
- Sanitize and validate mf2 data to prevent XSS and other security risks before storing or displaying.
- Test your mf2 parser with real-world data to ensure compatibility with diverse publishing methods.