The OpenLink Structured Data Sniffer (OSDS) — and Why You Need It
If you’ve looked at the source code of an HTML document recently, it’s likely that you’ve seen a bunch of statements that present document metadata in a structured manner; but rather than being written for immediate human comprehension, they have been written for HTTP Agents (most notably, Search Engines and Web Browsers).
In the digital age, what do you gain from having any source of vital information in front of you that you can’t comprehend quickly? Nothing, and a loss of 20+ minutes. Machine-readable information is great for machines, but what if you, a human, want to quickly make sense of a metadata in a specific page?
Swift and easy metadata management is essential both for curiosity, and for any search engine optimization endeavor. This is where a browser extension such as the OpenLink Structured Data Sniffer (OSDS) comes into play. By unraveling metadata-oriented structured data embedded within HTML documents, OSDS provides an unrivaled solution for discovering the magnitude of document metadata that ultimately effects positioning on search engine result pages.
Where Can I Find This Extension?
- Google Chrome users can install this free extension directly from the Chrome Webstore. Be sure to check the “Developer Mode box.”
- Firefox users can install this extension from the Mozilla Extensions Store.
- Opera and Vivaldi users can also use the Chrome Extension.
- You can also download the source code archive from the OSDS Github page.
Where Can I Learn More About This Extension?
In addition to the OSDS homepage, we also have a screencast showing the application in use, and more content on the way.
