Findable means that both humans and computers should be able to find the metadata and data. The tips below will help researchers prepare data that is findable.
Data are Assigned a Persistent Identifier
Data and metadata are assigned a unique and persistent identifier. A DOI is an example of a persistent identifier commonly used in research. Persistent identifiers help with accurate mapping of information between the systems and support the research process.
Data are Searchable
Metadata and data are searchable online i.e. registered in a searchable resource like a data repository.
Data are Described with Rich Metadata
‘Metadata’ is descriptive information about data and is usually embedded in data files/documents. The metadata helps search engines discover the object and can be queried directly to find data, obtain stats, and explore connections. Metadata is free to access and review (DataCite, n.d.).