Guidance

Using metadata to describe data assets in a data catalogue

Updated 28 September 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recommended-open-standards-for-government/using-metadata-to-describe-data-assets-in-a-data-catalogue

Use the Data Catalogue Vocabulary (DCAT) - Version 3 to describe datasets and data services in a catalogue using a standard model and vocabulary.

1. Summary of the standard’s use for government

The Data Catalogue Vocabulary (DCAT) builds upon and uses the Dublin Core schema as a foundation to make datasets easier to catalogue and for these to be discovered in data catalogues.

DCAT is an RDF vocabulary specifically designed to facilitate interoperability between data catalogues published on the Web. It is already in use in UK Government data portals such as data.gov.uk as well as data portals in other jurisdictions. It has been endorsed by the Data Standards Authority to be used for example, when connecting departmental catalogues to the central Government Data Catalogue.

DCAT can be used in conjunction with other open standards such as the Data Quality Vocabulary (DQV).

This standard supports the implementation of the UK Cross-Government Metadata Exchange Model.

2. How this standard meets user needs

You should use DCAT if you create, maintain and share datasets with other organisations. Its adoption is particularly recommended for Essential Shared Data Assets used within government. For example, you:

  • produce or publish datasets which enable the delivery of public services
  • use these datasets to carry out data analysis, inform policy design or build government digital services
  • ingest, maintain or otherwise consume the underlying metadata for these datasets in a range of data cataloguing solutions or metadata repositories

This standard meets the need for consistency and context when sharing data across government and wider public sector.

Using the Data Catalogue Vocabulary will:

  • help metadata users describe datasets in a consistent, standardised manner
  • enable data catalogue owners / maintainers ensure the right information (i.e. metadata) is recorded when publishing or acquiring datasets shared across government
  • make it easier for users to find the data they need

3. How to use the standard

For information about starting to use DCAT, you can read the guidance in ‘Record key information about Essential Shared Data Assets’. It recommends using the DCAT attributes which are further described in the UK Cross-Government Metadata Exchange Model.

If you need additional properties, classes, data types, and vocabulary encoding schemes for greater specificity and granularity, you can use the full Data Catalogue Vocabulary or refer to the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set.

3.1. When not to use this standard

You should not use DCAT if you’re:

  • describing how to format data in a specific file - use the RFC 4180 and CSV on the Web standards
  • creating and managing geographic data - use documentation in INSPIRE, specifically the section on GEMINI instead
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