# What is a paywall? A rule that limits content access

A paywall is a system that limits access to content according to payment, subscription or free-access rules.

A publication can require payment immediately, allow a limited number of free articles, or restrict selected reporting. The reader’s access must follow the offer’s actual rules.

## Testing access as three different readers

For an illustrative article reserved for paying members, test a logged-out visitor, an account with current paid access and an account whose access has expired. Only the current member should receive the restricted body under that offer. If the publication instead promises a free article allowance, test that allowance and its limit too.

## Description is not enforcement

Sending the complete restricted article to a logged-out browser and merely covering it with an overlay can leave the text accessible. Test what the response and related data endpoints expose, not only whether the page displays a subscription box. Search markup describes the restriction; it does not enforce it.

## Inspect the same URL with different access

Test the article logged out and with the reader states your offer distinguishes. Check the body each actually receives. If a page describes a paywall in markup but sends all the text publicly, send both observations to the person who controls access.

## Related terms

[Entitlement](https://digitalpublishingnews.com/dictionary/entitlement/)

[Structured data](https://digitalpublishingnews.com/dictionary/structured-data/)

## Continue reading

[Paywall structured data describes restricted content; it does not block access](https://digitalpublishingnews.com/articles/paywall-markup-access-control/): It separates Google’s description of restricted text from the site’s actual access test.

## Sources

https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/paywalled-content

https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/paywalled-content

Editorial method: https://digitalpublishingnews.com/how-we-use-ai/

Canonical: https://digitalpublishingnews.com/dictionary/paywall/