> 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-i3-for-database-evaluation.md).

# FAIR I3 for database evaluation

{% hint style="warning" %}
This feature and the entire section is in active development.
{% endhint %}

## I3 – (Meta)data include qualified references to other (meta)data

<https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.ae22b8>

FAIR Principle I3 requires that (meta)data include qualified references to other (meta)data. Within the ARK-based benchmarks, this principle focuses on explicit relationships among databases and the information resources they contain, including relationships to other databases, versioned content, and mechanisms that support exchange of information among systems.

The FAIR principle is traditionally interpreted through explicit relationships among digital objects and metadata. The ARK-based benchmarks retain this interpretation through evaluation of database relationships and versioning practices. In addition, the benchmarks incorporate a small number of FAIRest-aligned characteristics relating to the import and export of information. These characteristics are included because they describe how information may be exchanged between databases, users, and external systems, and therefore contribute to the broader ecosystem of relationships and interoperability represented by this principle.

The metrics associated with I3 evaluate database relationships, versioning practices, and information exchange capabilities.

**Database FAIR-Enabling Characteristics**

<table><thead><tr><th width="102.15625">Context</th><th width="181.34765625">Database FAIR-enabling characteristic</th><th>FAIRsharing operationalisation</th><th>Metric</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database references related databases</td><td>Presence of one or more <em><strong>shares_data_with</strong></em> or <em><strong>related_to</strong></em> <a href="/pages/LhEB3rTvmuz7W6IoMSGd">relationships with other database records</a>. </td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8408">FAIR Metric - I3 - Metadata - Database references related databases</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database supports versioned content</td><td><a href="/pages/7r34lbIpf4e7rvr71wML#data-versioning">Data Versioning</a> set to Yes. </td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8409">FAIR Metric - I3 - Metadata - Database supports versioned content</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database allows human import of content</td><td>Presence of a <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">Data Process</a> with <em><strong>Write</strong></em> or <em><strong>Read and Write</strong></em> type using the <em><strong>User Interface</strong></em> access method. </td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8410">FAIR Metric - I3 - Metadata - Resource allows content submission by humans</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database allows machine import of content</td><td>Presence of a <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">Data Process</a> with <em><strong>Write</strong></em> or <em><strong>Read and Write</strong></em> type using a <em><strong>non-User Interface</strong></em> access method.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8411">FAIR Metric - I3 - Metadata - Resource allows content submission by machines</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database allows human download of content</td><td>Presence of a <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">Data Process</a> whose label contains "Download", whose type is <em><strong>Read</strong></em> or <em><strong>Read and Write</strong></em>, and whose access method is <em><strong>User Interface</strong></em>.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8414">FAIR Metric - I3 - Metadata - Resource allows content download by humans</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database allows machine download of content</td><td>Presence of a <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">Data Process</a> whose label contains "Download", whose type is <em><strong>Read</strong></em> or <em><strong>Read and Write</strong></em>, and whose access method is not <em><strong>User Interface</strong></em>.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8413">FAIR Metric - I3 - Metadata - Resource allows content download by machines</a></td></tr></tbody></table>