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Dublin Core Reference

Free reference guide: Dublin Core Reference

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About Dublin Core Reference

The Dublin Core Metadata Reference provides a complete, searchable guide to the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set (DCMES) and its DCMI extensions. It covers all 15 core elements including dc:title, dc:creator, dc:subject, dc:description, dc:publisher, dc:contributor, dc:date, dc:type, dc:format, dc:identifier, dc:source, dc:language, dc:relation, dc:coverage, and dc:rights, with XML syntax examples and encoding scheme recommendations for each element.

Beyond the basic elements, this reference includes DCMI Qualified Dublin Core extensions such as dcterms:created, dcterms:modified, dcterms:isPartOf, dcterms:abstract, dcterms:extent, and dcterms:audience. Each entry details proper XML markup, recommended controlled vocabularies (LCSH, DDC, KDC, ISO 639-2), and encoding schemes (W3CDTF, IMT, DCMIType) for standards-compliant metadata creation.

The reference also covers practical integration patterns: OAI-PMH protocol usage with oai_dc format for metadata harvesting, RDF/XML representation for Linked Data publishing, and HTML meta tag embedding for web page discoverability. Whether you are cataloging digital library collections, building institutional repositories, or implementing metadata standards for open access journals, this tool helps you write correct Dublin Core markup quickly.

Key Features

  • Complete coverage of all 15 Dublin Core core elements with XML syntax and examples
  • DCMI Qualified extensions including dcterms:created, dcterms:modified, dcterms:abstract, and dcterms:extent
  • Encoding scheme reference for W3CDTF dates, IMT media types, ISO 639-2 language codes, and DCMIType vocabulary
  • OAI-PMH integration examples showing oai_dc metadata harvesting format
  • RDF/XML representation guide for Linked Data and semantic web publishing
  • HTML meta tag embedding patterns for Dublin Core in web pages
  • Controlled vocabulary recommendations including LCSH, DDC, and KDC subject headings
  • Searchable and filterable by category with instant keyword lookup across all entries

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 15 Dublin Core core elements?

The 15 Dublin Core Metadata Element Set (DCMES) elements are: title, creator, subject, description, publisher, contributor, date, type, format, identifier, source, language, relation, coverage, and rights. Each element is optional and repeatable, making the standard flexible enough for simple to moderately complex metadata requirements.

What is the difference between Simple DC and Qualified DC?

Simple Dublin Core uses only the 15 base elements from the dc: namespace. Qualified Dublin Core (DCMI Metadata Terms) extends these with refinements like dcterms:created, dcterms:modified, dcterms:isPartOf, and dcterms:abstract. Qualified DC provides more precise semantics while maintaining backward compatibility with Simple DC.

How do I use Dublin Core with OAI-PMH?

OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting) requires support for the oai_dc metadata format as a minimum. In ListRecords and GetRecord responses, Dublin Core elements are wrapped inside an <oai_dc:dc> container within the <metadata> element. This reference shows the exact XML structure needed for compliant OAI-PMH responses.

What encoding schemes should I use for Dublin Core dates?

The recommended encoding scheme for dates is W3CDTF (a profile of ISO 8601), specified via xsi:type="dcterms:W3CDTF". Accepted formats include YYYY, YYYY-MM, and YYYY-MM-DD. For example: <dc:date xsi:type="dcterms:W3CDTF">2024-03-15</dc:date>.

How do I embed Dublin Core metadata in HTML pages?

Use <meta> tags with the DC. prefix in the name attribute: <meta name="DC.title" content="Your Title" />. Include a schema link: <link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" />. This reference provides copy-ready examples for all common elements in HTML format.

What is the dc:type element and what values should I use?

The dc:type element describes the nature or genre of the resource. The recommended controlled vocabulary is DCMI Type Vocabulary, specified via xsi:type="dcterms:DCMIType". Valid values include Collection, Dataset, Event, Image, InteractiveResource, MovingImage, PhysicalObject, Service, Software, Sound, StillImage, and Text.

How does Dublin Core relate to RDF and Linked Data?

Dublin Core elements map directly to RDF properties. Each element becomes a predicate in an RDF triple, with the resource URI as subject. This reference shows how to express Dublin Core in RDF/XML format using rdf:Description elements, enabling your metadata to participate in the Linked Data ecosystem with URI-based identification of resources and properties.

Is the Dublin Core Reference free and does it work offline?

Yes, this reference is completely free with no account required. All content loads in your browser and works without an internet connection after the initial page load. The interface supports full-text search, category filtering, dark mode, and responsive design for desktop, tablet, and mobile use.