diff --git a/.github/scripts/validate_schema.rb b/.github/scripts/validate_schema.rb
index 05f69e287..cd6e1eaa3 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/validate_schema.rb
+++ b/.github/scripts/validate_schema.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ class ValidateSchema
   # But we should warn if it's missing for clarity
   SCHEMA_V5_OPTIONAL_BUT_RECOMMENDED = %w[name description].freeze
 
+  CATEGORY_STYLES = %w[serif sans-serif monospace display script handwriting decorative].freeze
+  CATEGORY_SCRIPTS = %w[latin cjk arabic cyrillic hebrew devanagari thai other].freeze
+  CATEGORY_USE_CASES = %w[body heading code ui decorative caption].freeze
+
   def initialize(args)
     OptionParser.new do |opts|
       opts.banner = "Usage: ruby validate_schema.rb [options]"
@@ -77,6 +81,8 @@ def validate_file(file)
 
     validate_fonts_or_collections(file, content)
 
+    validate_categories(file, content)
+
     # Common validations
     validate_fonts(file, content)
     validate_naming(file, content)
@@ -116,6 +122,50 @@ def validate_v5_schema(file, content)
     end
   end
 
+  def validate_categories(file, content)
+    categories = content["categories"]
+    return unless categories
+
+    unless categories.is_a?(Hash)
+      add_error(file, "categories must be a mapping (hash), got #{categories.class}")
+      return
+    end
+
+    validate_category_enum(file, categories, "style", CATEGORY_STYLES, array: false)
+    validate_category_enum(file, categories, "script", CATEGORY_SCRIPTS, array: true)
+    validate_category_enum(file, categories, "use_case", CATEGORY_USE_CASES, array: false)
+
+    return unless categories.key?("variable") &&
+                  ![true, false].include?(categories["variable"])
+
+    add_error(file, "categories.variable must be boolean, " \
+                    "got #{categories["variable"].inspect}")
+  end
+
+  def validate_category_enum(file, categories, key, allowed, array:)
+    return unless categories.key?(key)
+
+    value = categories[key]
+    values = array ? normalize_array(value, key) : [value]
+    return if values.nil?
+
+    values.each do |v|
+      next if allowed.include?(v)
+
+      add_warning(file, "categories.#{key} unknown value '#{v}' " \
+                        "— allowed: #{allowed.join(', ')}")
+    end
+  end
+
+  def normalize_array(value, key)
+    return [value] unless value.is_a?(Array)
+
+    value
+  rescue StandardError
+    add_error(file, "categories.#{key} must be string or array")
+    nil
+  end
+
   def validate_v5_resource(file, name, resource)
     # Google-sourced resources
     if resource["source"] == "google"
diff --git a/docs/guide/formula-structure.md b/docs/guide/formula-structure.md
index 8b2f02d7b..047ec2e8c 100644
--- a/docs/guide/formula-structure.md
+++ b/docs/guide/formula-structure.md
@@ -147,6 +147,29 @@ extract:
   format: gzip       # For GZIP files
 ```
 
+## Categories
+
+Optional structured classification used by the docs site's browse filters and the formula detail page badges. All fields are optional — omit the ones you don't know.
+
+```yaml
+categories:
+  style: sans-serif          # Primary style classification
+  script: [latin, cjk]       # Supported scripts (string or array)
+  variable: false            # Whether the font is a variable font
+  use_case: body             # Intended primary use case
+```
+
+### Controlled Vocabulary
+
+| Field | Type | Allowed Values |
+|-------|------|----------------|
+| `style` | string | `serif`, `sans-serif`, `monospace`, `display`, `script`, `handwriting`, `decorative` |
+| `script` | string or array | `latin`, `cjk`, `arabic`, `cyrillic`, `hebrew`, `devanagari`, `thai`, `other` |
+| `variable` | boolean | `true`, `false` (inferred from `resources.format` if omitted) |
+| `use_case` | string | `body`, `heading`, `code`, `ui`, `decorative`, `caption` |
+
+Values outside this vocabulary emit a warning (not error) during schema validation, so the vocabulary can evolve as new fonts are added.
+
 ## Example: Complete Formula
 
 ```yaml