Organic Result Checks in Google SERPs

Organic search results can include a growing number of attributes and additional elements, from images and videos to security-related signals. To make organic result data more scalable and easier to work with, we’re introducing a new checks array that lists all attributes applicable to the organic result. We’ve also added support for a new is_highly_cited check.

What’s new

Organic items in Google Organic SERP API, DataForSEO Labs API and Google SERP Databases now support a new checks field. It contains an array of strings representing the attributes that apply to a particular organic result.

For example:

{
  "checks": [
    "is_image",
    "is_video",
    "is_malicious"
  ]
}

The array can include checks that are currently returned through the following boolean fields:

• is_image
• is_video
• is_web_story
• is_malicious
• is_higly_cited
• is_featured_snippet
• amp_version

Learn more about the checks array in this Help Center article.

New check: is_highly_cited

We have also added support for a new check: is_highly_cited. According to Google, this badge in search results is designed to allow users to “spot articles that many other stories have cited, helping you find the primary reporting that other articles are referencing.”

When an organic result is labeled as highly cited, the corresponding attribute will be present in the checks array as in the example below:

{
  "checks": [
    "is_highly_cited"
  ]
}

This data is available in Google Organic SERP API, DataForSEO Labs API and Google SERP Databases.

Deprecation notice

The existing individual boolean fields will continue to be available during the transition period. On January 20, 2027, these fields will be deprecated:

• is_image
• is_video
• is_web_story
• is_malicious
• is_higly_cited
• is_featured_snippet
• amp_version

We recommend updating your integrations to use the new checks array beforehand.

Why it matters

As more attributes become available, continuously adding new boolean fields makes API responses larger and more difficult to maintain. Moving these attributes into a single checks array allows us to introduce new attributes without overloading the data structure of organic results.

This update allows you to:

• process organic result attributes through a single, consistent field;
• make your integrations easier to maintain as new checks are introduced;
• automatically support additional checks with fewer changes on your side.

Visit the updated API documentation to start working with the new checks array and is_highly_cited badge data.