FAIR F4 for database evaluation

This feature and the entire section is in active development.

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.

Context	Database FAIR-enabling characteristic	FAIRsharing operationalisation	Metric
🏛	Database is discoverable through general web search engines	Operationalised outside of FAIRsharing	FAIR Metric – F4 – Metadata - indexed in a searchable resource
🏛	Database is represented in a searchable registry	Presence of a valid FAIRsharing database record.	FAIR Metric - F4 - Resource has a FAIRsharing record
🧩	Database allows human discovery of its content	Presence of one or more Data Processes containing "Search" or "Browse", using a User Interface access method and supporting Read or Read/Write operations.	FAIR Metric - F4 - Resource provides user search interface
🧩	Database allows machine discovery of its content	Presence of one or more Data Processes containing "Search" or "Browse", using a non-UI access method and supporting Read or Read/Write operations.	FAIR Metric - F4 - Resource provides machine search interface