---
title: "Structured Data Extraction"
description: "Build structured data extraction using Vercel AI SDK `generateText` with `Output.object()` & Zod. Create features like intelligent forms or data normalization from free text."
canonical_url: "https://vercel.com/academy/ai-sdk/structured-data-extraction"
md_url: "https://vercel.com/academy/ai-sdk/structured-data-extraction.md"
docset_id: "vercel-academy"
doc_version: "1.0"
last_updated: "2026-03-10T16:58:00.884Z"
content_type: "lesson"
course: "ai-sdk"
course_title: "Builders Guide to the AI SDK"
prerequisites:  []
---

<agent-instructions>
Vercel Academy — structured learning, not reference docs.
Lessons are sequenced.
Adapt commands to the human's actual environment (OS, package manager, shell, editor) — detect from project context or ask, don't assume.
The lesson shows one path; if the human's project diverges, adapt concepts to their setup.
Preserve the learning goal over literal steps.
Quizzes are pedagogical — engage, don't spoil.
Quiz answers are included for your reference.
</agent-instructions>

# Structured Data Extraction

# Structured Extraction for App Enhancement

You've used AI to classify and summarize text. Now, get even more precise with **Structured Extraction**. This pulls *specific pieces* of information from unstructured text and places them exactly where needed in your app.

Use `generateText` with `Output.object()` and a detailed Zod schema to extract appointment details from natural language input and display them using a v0-prototyped UI.

\*\*Note: Project Setup\*\*

Continuing with the same codebase from
[Lesson 1.4](./ai-sdk-dev-setup). For this section, you'll
find the extraction example files in the `app/(4-extraction)/` directory.

## The Problem: Turning Natural Language into Data

Imagine typing "Lunch with Sarah next Tuesday at noon at Cafe Central" and having it automatically create a perfect calendar event with all the details filled in. Apps like Fantastical pioneered this kind of natural language processing - it seems like magic, but that's structured extraction in action!

The flow: Natural Language Input + Zod Schema → Output.object() → Structured Data (title, attendees, time, location)

Manually parsing that input is a nightmare. Regex breaks easily, and complex parsing logic is brittle. But for an LLM? It's a natural fit. Models continue to improve giving better results at a lower cost.

## Setup: The Appointment Extractor App

Let's get your environment ready.

1. **Run the Dev Server:** Make sure it's running (`pnpm run dev`).
2. **Open the Page:** Navigate to `http://localhost:3000/extraction`.

You'll see a simple UI: an input field to type appointment details and an empty calendar card below it (this is our `CalendarAppointment` component, built with Vercel v0. We'll explore this AI-powered UI generator in the next lesson).

![Screenshot of the '/extraction' page showing the input field and the empty 'CalendarAppointment' card.](https://ezs2ytwtdks5l2we.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/ai-sdk-course-sxtraction-setup.png)

## Step 1: The Extraction Action (**`actions.ts`**)

Like before, you will use a Server Action to handle the AI call.

1. **Create `schemas.ts`:** In `app/(4-extraction)/extraction/`, create the file `schemas.ts`.
2. **Start with this basic structure:**

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/schemas.ts"
import { z } from 'zod';

// TODO: Define the appointmentSchema with these fields:
// - title (string)
// - startTime (string, nullable)
// - endTime (string, nullable)
// - attendees (array of strings, nullable)
// - location (string, nullable)
// - date (string, required)

// TODO: Export a type based on the schema using z.infer
```

3. **Now implement the schema:**

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/schemas.ts" {3-12}
import { z } from "zod";

export const appointmentSchema = z.object({
	title: z.string(),
	startTime: z.string().nullable(),
	endTime: z.string().nullable(),
	attendees: z.array(z.string()).nullable(),
	location: z.string().nullable(),
	date: z.string(),
});

export type AppointmentDetails = z.infer<typeof appointmentSchema>;
```

\*\*Note: Why nullable() instead of optional()?\*\*

In our experience, explicitly requiring a field but allowing `null`
(`z.string().nullable()`) often yields more reliable results from LLMs than
making the field entirely optional (`z.string().optional()`). It forces the
model to consider the field and consciously decide if the information is
present or not.

4. **Create `actions.ts`:** In `app/(4-extraction)/extraction/`, create the file `actions.ts`.
5. **Start with the basic setup:**

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/actions.ts"
'use server';

import { generateText, Output } from 'ai';
import { appointmentSchema, type AppointmentDetails } from './schemas';

export const extractAppointment = async (
  input: string,
): Promise<AppointmentDetails> => {
  console.log(`Extracting from: "${input}"`);

  // TODO: Use generateText with Output.object() to extract appointment details
  // - Model: 'openai/gpt-5-mini'
  // - Prompt: Ask to extract appointment details from the input
  // - Output: Output.object({ schema: appointmentSchema })
  // - Return the extracted details from the 'output' property
};
```

6. **Now implement the extraction:**

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/actions.ts" {11-20}
"use server";

import { generateText, Output } from "ai";
import { appointmentSchema, type AppointmentDetails } from "./schemas";

export const extractAppointment = async (
	input: string,
): Promise<AppointmentDetails> => {
	console.log(`Extracting from: "${input}"`);

	const { output: appointmentDetails } = await generateText({
		model: "openai/gpt-5-mini",
		prompt: `Extract the appointment details from the following natural language input:\n\n"${input}"`,
		output: Output.object({
			schema: appointmentSchema,
		}),
	});

	console.log("Extracted details:", appointmentDetails);
	return appointmentDetails;
};
```

## Step 2: Connecting the Frontend (page.tsx)

No you'll make the form work.

1. **Open `app/(4-extraction)/extraction/page.tsx`.** The basic UI is already set up.

2. **Add the necessary imports and state at the top of the file (after the existing imports):**

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/page.tsx"
// Add these imports
import { extractAppointment } from './actions';
import { type AppointmentDetails } from './schemas';

// Inside the component, add state for the appointment data
const [appointment, setAppointment] = useState<AppointmentDetails | null>(null);
```

3. **Replace the handleSubmit function with the actual implementation:**

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/page.tsx"
const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
  e.preventDefault();
  setLoading(true);
  setAppointment(null); // Clear previous results

  const formData = new FormData(e.target as HTMLFormElement);
  const input = formData.get('appointment') as string;

  try {
    const result = await extractAppointment(input);
    setAppointment(result);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Extraction failed:', error);
    // TODO: Show error to user
  } finally {
    setLoading(false);
  }
};
```

4. **Pass the appointment data to the CalendarAppointment component:**

Find the line with `<CalendarAppointment appointment={null} />` and replace it with:

```typescript
<CalendarAppointment appointment={appointment} />
```

The complete `page.tsx` file should look like this:

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/page.tsx" {8-9, 13-15, 18-33, 56}
"use client";

import { useState } from "react";
import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
import { CalendarAppointment } from "./calendar-appointment";
import { extractAppointment } from "./actions";
import { type AppointmentDetails } from "./schemas";

export default function Page() {
	const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
	const [appointment, setAppointment] = useState<AppointmentDetails | null>(
		null,
	);

	const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
		e.preventDefault();
		setLoading(true);
		setAppointment(null); // Clear previous results

		const formData = new FormData(e.target as HTMLFormElement);
		const input = formData.get("appointment") as string;

		try {
			const result = await extractAppointment(input);
			setAppointment(result);
		} catch (error) {
			console.error("Extraction failed:", error);
			// TODO: Show error to user
		} finally {
			setLoading(false);
		}
	};

	return (
		<div className="max-w-lg mx-auto px-4 py-8">
			<div className="flex flex-col gap-6">
				<Card>
					<CardHeader>
						<CardTitle>Extract Appointment</CardTitle>
					</CardHeader>
					<CardContent>
						<form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-4">
							<Input
								name="appointment"
								placeholder="Enter appointment details..."
								className="w-full"
							/>
							<Button type="submit" className="w-full" disabled={loading}>
								{loading ? "Extracting..." : "Extract Appointment"}
							</Button>
						</form>
					</CardContent>
				</Card>
				<CalendarAppointment appointment={appointment} />
			</div>
		</div>
	);
}
```

## Step 3: Run and Observe (Initial Extraction)

Let's test it! Go to `http://localhost:3000/extraction`.

Enter: `Meeting with Guillermo Rauch about Next Conf Keynote Practice tomorrow at 2pm at Vercel HQ`

Click "Extract Appointment".

![Screenshot of the '/extraction' page showing the initial extraction results](https://ezs2ytwtdks5l2we.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/ai-sdk-course-extraction-finish.png)

The initial results might be okay, but not perfect (e.g., title includes names, date is wrong, time format is basic).

## Step 4: Refining with **`.describe()`** - The Key!

The initial results might work, but they could be imperfect (e.g., title includes names, date might be wrong, time format is basic).

Let's improve our extraction using `.describe()` in our Zod schema. Update your `schemas.ts`:

```typescript title="app/(4-extraction)/extraction/schemas.ts"
export const appointmentSchema = z.object({
  title: z.string().describe(
    'The title of the event. Should be the main purpose, concise, without names. Capitalize properly.'
  ),
  startTime: z
    .string()
    .nullable()
    .describe('Appointment start time in HH:MM format (e.g., 14:00 for 2pm).'),
  endTime: z.string().nullable().describe(
    'Appointment end time in HH:MM format. If not specified, assume a 1-hour duration after startTime.'
  ),
  attendees: z.array(z.string()).nullable().describe(
    'List of attendee names. Extract first and last names if available.'
  ),
  location: z.string().nullable(),
  date: z.string().describe(
    `The date of the appointment. Today's date is ${new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]}. Use YYYY-MM-DD format.`
  ),
});
```

Key refinements:

- **Title**: Clear instructions to exclude names and be concise
- **Time**: Specific format requirements (24-hour HH:MM)
- **Date**: Provides today's date for correct relative date calculation
- **Attendees**: Instructions on extracting full names

Save `schemas.ts`, refresh the browser, and test again with the same input. The extraction should now be much more accurate!

![Screenshot of the '/extraction' page showing the refined extraction results](https://ezs2ytwtdks5l2we.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/ai-sdk-course-extraction-refined.png)

\*\*Note: 💡 Handling Relative Dates and Time Formats\*\*

Struggling with date parsing or time format inconsistencies? Try asking an AI assistant:

```markdown title="Prompt: Improving Date and Time Extraction Accuracy"
<context>
I'm building an appointment extraction feature using Vercel AI SDK's `generateText` with `Output.object()` and Zod schemas.
My schema extracts: title, startTime, endTime, attendees, location, and date.
I'm using `.describe()` to guide the AI, including providing today's date for context.
</context>

<current-schema>
export const appointmentSchema = z.object({
  title: z.string().describe('The title of the event. Should be the main purpose, without names.'),
  startTime: z.string().nullable().describe('Appointment start time in HH:MM format (e.g., 14:00 for 2pm).'),
  endTime: z.string().nullable().describe('Appointment end time in HH:MM format. If not specified, assume 1-hour duration.'),
  attendees: z.array(z.string()).nullable().describe('List of attendee names.'),
  location: z.string().nullable(),
  date: z.string().describe(`The date of the appointment. Today's date is ${new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]}. Use YYYY-MM-DD format.`)
});
</current-schema>

<problems>
1. **Relative dates are inconsistent:**
   - "tomorrow" sometimes calculates correctly, sometimes returns today
   - "next Tuesday" occasionally picks the wrong week
   - "in 3 days" sometimes fails entirely

2. **Time formats vary:**
   - Sometimes get "2pm" instead of "14:00"
   - "2:30pm" becomes "2:30" (missing hour padding)
   - Ambiguous times like "morning" or "afternoon" return null

3. **Missing endTime logic:**
   - Even with "assume 1-hour duration" in description, endTime often stays null
</problems>

<questions>
1. Should I provide more context in the date description? Like day of week for today?
2. For time format enforcement, should I use Zod `.regex()` or `.refine()` to validate HH:MM format?
3. How can I make the AI more reliably calculate endTime when not specified?
4. Would it help to include example inputs/outputs in the schema descriptions?
</questions>

<specific-test-case>
Input: "Quick sync with Lee tomorrow morning"
Expected: date=2025-09-30, startTime="09:00", endTime="10:00"
Actual: date=2025-09-29 (wrong), startTime=null, endTime=null

Show me the improved schema with context injection that fixes this specific case.
</specific-test-case>
```

This will help you understand advanced techniques for date/time context injection and format validation!

## Key Things to Consider

- Structured Extraction pulls specific data points from unstructured text into a defined format.
- `generateText` with `Output.object()` + Zod Schema is the ideal tool combination.
- Use `nullable()` for potentially missing fields.
- `.describe()` is essential for specifying formats, providing context (like today's date), and defining default logic.
- Sharing Zod schemas between backend (actions) and frontend provides end-to-end type safety.

\*\*Side Quest: Advanced Date/Time Parsing\*\*

```typescript title="advanced-date-parsing.ts"
// Modified schema with date transformation
import { z } from 'zod';
import { parseISO } from 'date-fns'; // Install with: pnpm add date-fns

const AppointmentSchema = z.object({
title: z.string(),
date: z.string()
.describe('The appointment date in ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD)')
.transform(dateStr => {
  try {
    return parseISO(dateStr);
  } catch (e) {
    // If parsing fails, return the original string
    // This allows Zod validation to continue
    return new Date('Invalid Date');
  }
})
.refine(date => !isNaN(date.getTime()), {
  message: 'Invalid date format, must be YYYY-MM-DD'
}),
time: z.string()
  .describe('The appointment time in 24-hour format (HH:MM)')
  .nullable(),
location: z.string().nullable(),
attendees: z.array(z.string()).nullable(),
});

// Enhanced prompt that emphasizes date format requirements
const prompt = `
  Extract appointment details from this text.
  ALWAYS format dates as ISO strings (YYYY-MM-DD), converting relative dates
  like "tomorrow" or "next Friday" to actual calendar dates based on today
  being ${new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]}.

  Text: "${appointmentText}"
`;
```

\*\*Side Quest: Extraction Validation Pipeline\*\*

```typescript title="lib/extraction-validator.ts"
export interface ValidationResult {
  isValid: boolean;
  confidence: number;
  errors: Array<{ field: string; message: string }>;
  warnings: Array<{ field: string; suggestion: string }>;
}

export async function validateExtraction(
  payload: unknown,
  schema: z.ZodSchema
): Promise<ValidationResult> {
  // TODO: run staged validation and return confidence score
  // 1. Syntax validation with Zod
  // 2. Business rules checks
  // 3. External API validation
  // 4. Confidence scoring

  return {
    isValid: false,
    confidence: 0,
    errors: [],
    warnings: []
  };
}
```

## Next Step: Supercharge UI with Vercel v0

You've seen how structured data unlocks practical features like calendar extraction and form filling. Now, take a quick (optional) detour to explore Vercel v0, the tool that was used to prototype the `CalendarAppointment` UI in this example. You'll get hands-on experience generating UI components directly from prompts, accelerating your frontend development for AI features.


---

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