Mikroformaate

Mikroformaate, also known as microformats, are a set of simple, open data formats used to embed machine-readable information within web content. They enable structured data to be integrated seamlessly into human-readable documents, typically HTML, allowing both humans and machines to interpret the information effectively. Microformats aim to improve data sharing, enhance search engine visibility, and facilitate the development ofweb applications by providing standardized ways to encode common types of information such as contact details, events, reviews, and geographical locations.

The design philosophy of microformats emphasizes minimalism and ease of implementation. Instead of introducing new markup languages or complex schemas, microformats leverage existing HTML elements and attributes. For example, specific class names and attribute values are used to indicate data types, making it straightforward for web developers to annotate their content without disrupting the visual presentation. Popular microformats include hCard for contact information, hEvent for event details, and hReview for reviews or recommendations.

Microformats are part of the broader ecosystem of semantic web technologies, which aim to add meaning to web content to improve data interoperability. While microformats are lightweight and easy to adopt, they have limitations in expressiveness compared to more comprehensive standards like RDF or OWL. Nonetheless, microformats remain valuable for small-scale data annotations, enhancing web search results, and enabling better data integration across web services.

Developed and maintained through community efforts, microformats continue to evolve as a practical tool for web developers seeking to add semantic value in a straightforward manner. Their widespread adoption has contributed to the growing trend of making web content more machine-understandable while respecting simplicity and compatibility with existing web standards.