Open Data

Definition: Open data refers to data that is freely available and readily accessible for use by others without restriction, “Open data and content can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose” (https://opendefinition.org/). Open data are subject to the requirement to attribute and share alike, thus it is important to consider appropriate Open Licenses. Sensitive or time-sensitive datasets can be embargoed or shared with more selective access options to ensure data integrity is upheld.

Related terms: Badges (Open Science), Data availability, FAIR principles, Metadata, Open Licenses, Open Material, Reproducibility, Secondary data analysis

References: https://opendefinition.org/ (version 2.1), & https://opendatahandbook.org/guide/en/what-is-open-data/

Drafted and Reviewed by: Lisa Spitzer, Sarah Ashcroft-Jones, Mahmoud Elsherif, Helena Hartmann, Matt Jaquiery, Flávio Azevedo, Ross Mounce, Charlotte R. Pennington, Steven Verheyen

Note that we are currently working on an automated mechanism to link references cited above with their full-length version that can be found at https://forrt.org/glossary/references with all references used so far.