What is Item?
In RSS, each episode is represented by an <item> element within the channel. Items contain episode-specific metadata like title, description, publication date, duration, and the enclosure pointing to your audio file.
Item Element Structure
<item>
<!-- Required elements -->
<title>Episode 42: The Answer to Everything</title>
<enclosure url="https://cdn.example.com/ep42.mp3"
length="48576000"
type="audio/mpeg" />
<guid isPermaLink="false">ep-42-2024</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<!-- Recommended elements -->
<description>In this episode, we explore...</description>
<link>https://yourpodcast.com/episodes/42</link>
<itunes:duration>01:23:45</itunes:duration>
<itunes:episode>42</itunes:episode>
<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
<!-- Optional elements -->
<itunes:season>2</itunes:season>
<itunes:image href="https://..." />
<podcast:transcript url="https://..." type="text/vtt" />
<podcast:chapters url="https://..." type="application/json+chapters" />
</item>
Key Item Elements
| Element | Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
<title> |
Yes | Episode title displayed in apps |
<enclosure> |
Yes | Audio file location, size, and type |
<guid> |
Yes | Unique identifier (never changes) |
<pubDate> |
Yes | Publication timestamp |
<description> |
Recommended | Episode summary/show notes |
<itunes:duration> |
Recommended | Episode length |
<itunes:episode> |
Recommended | Episode number |
<itunes:episodeType> |
Recommended | full, trailer, or bonus |
Item Ordering
Items appear in your feed from newest to oldest. The order affects:
- How episodes display in podcast apps
- Which episodes apps download first for new subscribers
- Serial show navigation
Most feeds list the 100-300 most recent episodes, though the optimal number depends on your show's history and episode length.
Why It Matters
Item elements are what listeners actually consume. While channel metadata gets people to your show, item quality determines whether they stay.
Why item metadata matters:
-
Download triggers: The enclosure URL in each item is what apps request when downloading episodes. No enclosure = no download.
-
Episode display: Title, description, and duration from items populate what listeners see in their podcast app.
-
Tracking and continuity: The GUID in each item lets apps track listening progress and prevent duplicate downloads.
-
Publishing timing: The pubDate determines episode ordering and when apps treat an episode as "new."
Item metadata best practices:
| Element | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Title | Descriptive, searchable, 60 characters max |
| Description | Rich show notes, links, timestamps |
| Duration | Accurate to help listener planning |
| Episode number | Consistent numbering for navigation |
| Episode type | Use trailer for promos, bonus for extras |
The complete picture: A well-crafted item gives listeners everything they need: what the episode is about, how long it is, when it was published, and where to get it. Missing or inaccurate item data creates friction that costs you listeners.