Auto generated FAQs - Does "unnamed item" in schema hurt SEO?

Question

I'm using FAQ schema in a collection list template, so dynamic tags for the Question and Answer. On pages without FAQ my page still contains the schema script but without any content. It's therefore showing as an error rather than acting in a spammy way - it's not showing anything that's not on the page as the tags are empty. On other pages the tags pull through Q&A where I've entered the information.

Is it fine to leave the empty script on those page without FAQ, or should I create an exclusion for those empty pages to prevent it from being created in the first place?

Some of the questions are auto-filled by our customers but sometimes they are empty and not yet prepopulated.

Answer 1

Nope! Google doesn't recognize Name itemProp values in structured data for FAQs, Logos, Sitelinks searchbox, and likely others. Why their testing tools always return 'Unnamed' for these itempTypes is a mystery.

Edit: Name for the Question is required and Google will not accept its value being blank: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/data-types/faqpage

Answer 2

I would create an exclusion for those empty pages to prevent it from being created in the first place.

It would be misleading to use "@Type": "FAQPage" on a page that doesn't have FAQs. I would make sure that your other types of pages are either getting either Article, BlogPosting, or NewsArticle (if a post) or simply WebPage (for a regular page).

Will keeping the empty FAQPage markup tank your visibility?

Definitely not.

Would it be best practice?

No.