When you\'re starting to learn about search engine optimization (SEO), you’ll encounter terms that can seem confusing. Two of the most common are \"structured data\" and \"schema markup.\" While they are often used interchangeably, they represent two different but deeply connected parts of a powerful strategy for your website. Understanding their relationship is crucial for improving your technical SEO and helping your site stand out. This guide will demystify these concepts and show you why they are so vital to your business’s online presence.