Dynamic Breadcrumbs (Supports Subcategories + Customizable + SEO Rich Snippets)

If GemPages released a built-in Breadcrumbs element that supports multi-level “subcategory/hub” navigation and outputs proper structured data (JSON-LD), it would be a killer feature for UX + SEO.

Today, most stores need custom code/apps to get good breadcrumbs—especially when using landing pages/hubs + Shopify collections—while GemPages pages would benefit from a native solution.

Use case example:

Home → All Building Materials (GemPages landing page / hub) → Decking (Shopify Collection) → Product page / Article / etc.

Why this matters:

1. UX / Navigation:

• Breadcrumbs reduce bounce rate and help users orient quickly in large catalogs.

• They add a clean “back to broader category” path without relying on the main menu.

• Especially important for stores with hubs, guides, and multiple entry points (beginner vs advanced shoppers).

2. SEO / Rich Results:

• Proper breadcrumb structured data can generate Breadcrumb rich snippets in Google.

• Better internal linking structure and clearer site hierarchy signals.

Current problem:

• To achieve this today we need custom code or third-party apps (e.g., “Breadcrumbs & Categories” type apps).

• Those solutions often don’t work well (or require extra dev work) specifically for GemPages landing pages/hubs.

• The result: breadcrumbs become inconsistent, fragile, and harder to maintain.

Requested solution:

A) New “Breadcrumbs” element in GemPages v7:

• Works on Home / Landing / Page / Product / Collection templates (where applicable)

• Automatically detects context:

  • Product page: Home → Collection/Hub → Product

  • Collection page: Home → Hub → Collection

  • Landing hub page: Home → Hub (and optionally deeper levels)

B) Subcategory / Hub support (critical):

• Allow defining a hierarchy that includes GemPages landing pages as “category hubs”

• Ability to manually map:

  • Hub page → related Shopify collections

  • Collection → parent hub

  • Product → preferred collection + parent hub

C) Customization options:

• Separator style

• Show/hide Home, current page, etc.

• Custom labels per node

• Design controls (typography, spacing, responsive behavior)

D) SEO requirements (must-have):

• Output valid BreadcrumbList schema (JSON-LD)

• Ensure it’s index-safe and consistent across pages

• Avoid duplicate/conflicting structured data if theme/app already outputs breadcrumbs (toggle to enable/disable)

Bonus (nice-to-have):

• Option to choose the “primary collection” for a product’s breadcrumb when a product belongs to multiple collections.

• Integration with Shopify metaobjects/metafields for defining parent/child relationships at scale.

Why this is a competitive advantage:

A robust, SEO-friendly breadcrumbs system that works seamlessly with GemPages hubs + Shopify collections would reduce reliance on apps/custom code and make GemPages more “full-stack” for serious stores focused on SEO and information architecture.