Research data not only form the basis of scientific publications by researchers but are also often made accessible to others. This requires that research data be documented in a clear and understandable way. This becomes essential if data publication is intended. MetadataMetadata are descriptions of research data (data about data) and provide content-related and structured information about the research context, methodological and analytical procedures, as well as the research team that generated the data. They can be categorized into bibliographic, administrative, procedural, and descriptive metadata and are typically created using templates, ReadMe files, or data curation profiles. Metadata are published alongside the research data themselves and are essential in online repositories and research data centers, where they enable third parties to understand and contextualize datasets. Metadata also enhances the findability and machine-readability of data, making them a key component of the FAIR Principles and good scientific practice. Read More – structured information about other data -plays a central role in finding, searching, and using research data. Various scientific communities have established metadata standardsMetadata standards enable the uniform description of similar data using metadata. They establish terms, meanings, structure, and format as standards for specific disciplines, for example. Metadata standards enhance data discoverability and support interoperability between applications, thereby facilitating data exchange, comparison, and linkage across datasets(Have a look at the following example: https://www.dublincore.org/specifications/dublin-core/dcmi-terms/).. Read More, which are conventions for describing and documenting research data through metadata.

Appropriate documentation is part of any good scientific practiceGood scientific practice (GSP) represents a standardized code of conduct established in the guidelines of the German Research Foundation (DFG). These guidelines emphasize the ethical obligation of every researcher to act responsibly, honestly, and respectfully, also in order to strengthen public trust in research and science. They serve as a framework for guiding scientific work processes. Read More.