Microformats are simple conventions for embedding semantic data in HTML. They use existing HTML attributes like class and rel to add meaning to web content.

Common Microformats

h-entry

Used for blog posts, articles, and other content:

<article class="h-entry">
  <h1 class="p-name">Title of the post</h1>
  <p class="p-author h-card">
    <a class="u-url" href="/about">Author Name</a>
  </p>
  <time class="dt-published" datetime="2025-12-22">December 22, 2025</time>
  <div class="e-content">
    Content goes here...
  </div>
</article>

h-card

Represents people or organizations:

<div class="h-card">
  <a class="u-url" href="https://example.com">
    <img class="u-photo" src="photo.jpg" alt="Name">
    <span class="p-name">Full Name</span>
  </a>
</div>

Why Use Microformats?

1. No extra dependencies - Just HTML
2. Search engine friendly - Google and Bing understand them
3. IndieWeb compatible - Works with Webmentions and other IndieWeb tools
4. Future-proof - Based on open standards

The key is that they're simple enough to add by hand, making them perfect for static sites.