> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://fairsharing.gitbook.io/fairsharing/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://fairsharing.gitbook.io/fairsharing/fair-assistance/fair-enabling-databases/fair-f4-for-database-evaluation.md).

# FAIR F4 for database evaluation

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## F4 – (Meta)data are registered or indexed in a searchable resource

<https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.0c0d21>

FAIR Principle F4 requires that (meta)data are registered or indexed in a searchable resource. Within the ARK-based benchmarks, this principle focuses on whether databases and their content can be discovered through searchable systems.

Discoverability is an important FAIR-enabling characteristic because users must first be able to locate a database and identify potentially relevant content before retrieval, access, interpretation, or reuse can occur. Discovery may occur through external registries and search engines, through the database itself, or through machine-accessible interfaces that enable search and browsing of database content.

Within the ARK-based benchmarks, F4 evaluates both the discoverability of databases and the discoverability of content represented within databases. These are complementary but distinct aspects of FAIR enablement.

The metrics associated with F4 evaluate database discoverability through web search indexing, registry inclusion, human-oriented search interfaces, and machine-accessible search capabilities.

<table><thead><tr><th width="102.94140625">Context</th><th width="199.1640625">Database FAIR-enabling characteristic</th><th width="235.61328125">FAIRsharing operationalisation</th><th>Metric</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database is discoverable through general web search engines</td><td>Operationalised outside of FAIRsharing</td><td><a href="https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.fe8b9b">FAIR Metric – F4 – Metadata - indexed in a searchable resource</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database is represented in a searchable registry</td><td>Presence of a valid FAIRsharing database record.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8375">FAIR Metric - F4 - Resource has a FAIRsharing record</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database allows human discovery of its content</td><td>Presence of one or more <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">Data Processes</a> containing "Search" or "Browse", using a User Interface access method and supporting Read or Read/Write operations. </td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8376">FAIR Metric - F4 - Resource provides user search interface</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database allows machine discovery of its content</td><td>Presence of one or more <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">Data Processes</a> containing "Search" or "Browse", using a non-UI access method and supporting Read or Read/Write operations. </td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8378">FAIR Metric - F4 - Resource provides machine search interface</a></td></tr></tbody></table>