Sustainable Data Formats

Definition

A sustainable digital format is one that is compatible, for the foreseeable future, with software needed to open and read it.

Relevance

In order to read most types of digital data, you need to open it in a compatible software. Unfortunately, as software applications change or disappear over time, data file formats can become obsolete. If there is a risk of your data format becoming obsolete during its useful lifetime, you may need to migrate it to a new format. The resources needed to do this could be included as a budget item in your data plan.

Recommendations

Wherever possible, select data formats that have the following sustainability attributes: (1) adheres to specifications that are publicly documented (versus formats based on proprietary specifications), as these file types are in widespread use and readable with readily available software; (2) is self-describing, containing embedded metadata that help interpret the context and structure of the data file; and (3) contains as much of the original information as possible.

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Resources

ResourceSource
FAQs about digital audio and video formats.National Archives
Sustainability of Digital FormatsLibrary of Congress