Has MicroFormat Author checks whether a page’s rendered body HTML contains the classic MicroFormat author pattern — the literal string class="author" — and returns 1 when it is present, 0 when it is not. It confirms the markup exists; it does not verify who the author actually is, and its presence relates to position within a measured result set rather than causing a page to rank.
| Factor ID | RG-SCF-001 |
|---|---|
| Family | Structured Data — MicroFormat |
| Measurement | Binary presence (0 / 1) |
| Measured zone | Body HTML without scripts |
What it measures
This factor reports whether the page’s body contains the recognized MicroFormat author class pattern. It is a simple presence check: either the expected markup appears in the body HTML or it does not. It is one small signal within RankGear’s structured-data family, describing whether a page carries this particular authorship convention.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear applies a case-insensitive search across the body HTML (with scripts excluded) for the exact double-quoted sequence class="author". When that sequence is found, the factor returns 1; otherwise it returns 0. The match is literal — it looks for that precise quoted string rather than parsing class lists, so the surrounding element and its other attributes do not matter as long as the exact sequence appears.
What RankGear looks for
<span class="author">Jane Doe</span>
<a rel="author" class="author" href="/team/jane">Jane Doe</a>| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | The exact sequence class="author" was found in the body HTML. |
| 0 | The pattern is absent — no class="author", or it appears with single quotes or as part of a multi-class value. |
How to optimize it
Use author MicroFormat markup only when it accurately identifies content authorship and fits your site’s broader structured-data approach. This is best treated as an observation about how a page is marked up, not a target to chase for its own sake — adding the class where it does not describe a real author adds nothing meaningful. If you do use it, apply the exact class="author" convention with double quotes so the pattern is recognized.
Important considerations
- A multi-class value such as
class="author person"does not match this exact pattern. - Single quotes —
class='author'— are not recognized. - Presence of the markup does not verify author identity; it only confirms the class is there.
- Prefer one consistent, valid structured-data strategy rather than mixing conventions.
- This is a correlation-based prioritization signal, not a guarantee: its presence relates to position within a measured result set and does not on its own make a page rank.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.