Do you also publish your feed in the modern JSON format AI pipelines prefer?
Confirms your site offers a JSON Feed as a modern alternative to RSS for programmatic consumers.
What this signal tests
We check whether your site advertises a JSON Feed via a link rel=alternate tag in the head, with type=application/feed+json. We then fetch the feed and confirm it is valid JSON Feed version 1.1 with at minimum a version field, a title, and an items array. JSON Feed is the modern, JSON-based alternative to RSS and Atom.
Why it matters for your visibility in AI
AI ingestion pipelines and LLM-driven content tools are written in modern programming environments where JSON is the native data format. Parsing XML (RSS or Atom) requires extra libraries, more error handling, and more compute. JSON Feed is consumed directly with no extra ceremony, which makes it the preferred format for newer AI agents and tools. This is a lower-weight signal because the standard is still emerging and many tools still rely on RSS or Atom. But the trajectory is clear: as AI pipelines proliferate, JSON Feed becomes the easier path, and sites that offer it appear in more modern ingestion flows. Publishing both RSS and JSON Feed is the strongest position; publishing only one is acceptable; publishing neither leaves you invisible to feed-aware AI ecosystems entirely.
Pass criteria at a glance
| Criterion | Passes when |
|---|---|
| Discoverable application/feed+json link with valid JSON Feed 1.1. |
How we test it
We parse your head for link tags with rel=alternate and type=application/feed+json. We then fetch the href URL and confirm the response is valid JSON Feed 1.1: it must have a version field with a value starting https://jsonfeed.org/version/1, a title, and an items array of one or more entries. Missing the link, broken URL, or invalid JSON Feed fails the signal.
Show technical detection method
Parse <link rel=alternate type=application/feed+json>; fetch href; verify JSON has version + title + items.
If your site fails: how to fix it
- Add JSON Feed support to your site. Most modern static site generators (Eleventy, Hugo, Astro) have plugins or built-in support. For custom builds, the format is simple: write a JSON file at /feed.json with version, title, home_page_url, feed_url, and items.
- Each item in the items array needs an id (a unique URL or identifier), a url, a title, and either content_html or content_text. Optionally include date_published, date_modified, author, tags, and image.
- Add a link tag to your site head: link rel=alternate type=application/feed+json title=Your Site Name (JSON) href=https://example.com/feed.json.
- Keep both RSS and JSON Feed in sync. They should reflect the same content with the same recency. AI tools may consume either; consistency between them maintains trust.
- Validate by fetching /feed.json directly and confirming the response parses as JSON and meets the JSON Feed 1.1 spec at jsonfeed.org.
Quick facts
| Maturity | EMERGING |
|---|---|
| Weight | low |
| Category | Structured Data |
Primary sources
Related signals
Frequently asked questions
Should I replace my RSS feed with JSON Feed?
No, offer both. RSS is still the dominant feed format and many tools cannot consume JSON Feed yet. JSON Feed is the modern complement, not a replacement. Sites with both maximise their reach across legacy feed readers and modern AI ingestion pipelines.
Is JSON Feed widely supported by readers?
It is supported by major modern readers (NetNewsWire, Feedbin, Inoreader) and by an increasing number of AI ingestion pipelines. Older readers may not support it. The format is gaining ground, especially in technical and AI-adjacent ecosystems. Adoption is uneven but the trajectory is upward.
Is JSON Feed simpler than RSS for me to publish?
If your platform already generates RSS, adding JSON Feed is usually a small extension. If you are building from scratch, JSON Feed is simpler to author and validate because JSON parsing is universal and the spec is short. Either way, the lift is small once you understand the format.
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