Dublin Core Metadata Overview

Dublin Core is one of the simplest and most widely used metadata schemas. Originally developed to describe web resources, Dublin Core can be used to describe various physical and digital resources.

Dublin Core is comprised of 15 core metadata elements. The Dublin Core standard includes definitions and explanations of each metadata element and how it is used. More information can be found on the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative website.

Dublin Core Element Set

Dublin Core Element	Use	Possible Data Value Standards

Dublin Core Element	Use	Possible Data Value Standards
Title	A name given to the resource.
Subject	The topic of the resource.	Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
Description	An account of the resource.
Creator	An entity primarily responsible for making the resource.	Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF)
Publisher	An entity responsible for making the resource available.
Contributor	An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource.	Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF)
Date	A point or period of time associated with an event in the life cycle of the resource.	W3CDTF
Type	The nature or genre of the resource.	DCMI Type Vocabulary
Format	The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource.	Internet Media Types (MIME)
Identifier	An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context.
Source	A related resource from which the described resource is derived.
Language	A language of the resource.	ISO 639
Relation	A related resource.
Coverage	The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant.	Geonames
Rights	Information about rights held in and over the resource.