You are here: Home > Elements > Format
|
Label |
DC.Format |
|
Definition |
The data format of a resource. [DC Definition: The digital or physical manifestation of a resource] |
|
Purpose |
The element allows the searcher to decide if a resource is worth accessing or retrieving, based on the ability of their software to cope with the format of the resource. |
|
Obligation |
Recommended |
|
Qualifiers |
------------ |
|
Encoding Scheme |
IMT (Internet Media Types) |
|
Examples |
<meta name="DC.Format" content="text/html"> <meta name="DC.Format" content="application/pdf; 535kb"> <meta name="DC.Format" content="video/quicktime; 4 minutes, 30 seconds"> |
Typically, Format may include the media-type or dimensions (e.g. size, duration) of the resource.
Format may be used to determine the software, hardware or other equipment needed to display or operate the resource. Information concerning the size of a resource may be included. Consumers can then decide if they wish to download the resource, or if they have the capability to do so.
In principle, formats can include physical media such as books, serials, or other non-electronic media.
It becomes necessary to indicate data format where, for example, the format requires software other than a web browser (e.g. plug-in), or where download time is lengthy. A typical example would be a pdf document, where a pdf reader is required to access the document.
|
Recommendation: Recommended best practice is to select a value for the Format element from a controlled vocabulary. The value may be selected from the IMT list of terms. |
|
IMT |
Description |
|
text/plain |
Unformatted text |
|
text/html |
HTML document |
|
text/xml |
XML document |
|
application/rtf |
Rich Text Format (RTF) document |
|
application/msword |
Microsoft Word document |
|
application/pdf |
Portable Document Format (PDF) document |
|
video/quicktime |
Quicktime encoded video |
|
video/mpeg |
MPEG encoded video |
A complete list of Internet Media Types (IMT) is available at:
http://www.isi.edu/in-notes/iana/assignments/media-types/media-types