> 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-r1.3-for-database-evaluation.md).

# FAIR R1.3 for database evaluation

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## FAIR Principle R1.3: (meta)data meet domain-relevant community standards

<https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.87d197>

FAIR Principle R1.3 requires that (meta)data meet domain-relevant community standards. Within the ARK-based benchmarks, this principle focuses on the extent to which databases adopt, support, and expose community standards and practices that enable FAIR use of their content.

Community standards play a central role in FAIR implementation because they provide shared approaches for describing, exchanging, interpreting, and reusing information. Databases that adopt recognised standards, support community engagement, provide documentation and training, and expose clear information about their scope and content are better positioned to enable FAIR use of the records they contain.

Within the ARK-based benchmarks, R1.3 evaluates both the adoption of community standards and the wider ecosystem of support, documentation, training, and trust signals that help users understand and effectively use a database.

The metrics associated with R1.3 evaluate database governance characteristics relating to standards adoption, community engagement, documentation, trust, and FAIR-support capabilities.

**Database FAIR-Enabling Characteristics**

<table><thead><tr><th width="103.28515625">Context</th><th>Database FAIR-enabling characteristic</th><th>FAIRsharing operationalisation</th><th>Metric</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database defines its community</td><td>Presence of at least one <a href="/pages/-MkbSacpVN-bVA3i74_y">subject</a> and at least one <a href="/pages/ifYo9flzXBdopnejwvmO">object</a> type.</td><td>ARK: <a href="https://fairsharing.org/8845">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource defines its community</a><br><br>LS-ARK: <a href="https://fairsharing.org/8847">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource defines its Life Science community</a></td></tr><tr><td>🧩</td><td>Database documents user-facing data submission processes</td><td>Presence of documentation for <a href="/pages/mtHxVse4qZsguS3zLeiE">data processes</a> where access method is User Interface and process type includes Write or Read and Write.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8849">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource documents user-facing data submission processes</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database adopts community-relevant terminologies or models/formats</td><td>Linked <a href="/pages/-MkbNjeABrfNMQOAT4rv#standards">terminologies and/or models/formats</a> where at least one subject tag is <em><strong>identical to</strong></em> or <em><strong>a child of</strong></em> at least one of the subject tags within the database record.</td><td>ARK: <a href="https://fairsharing.org/8855">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource adopts community-relevant terminologies or models/formats</a><br><br>LS-ARK: <a href="https://fairsharing.org/8867">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource adopts community-relevant terminologies or models/formats (Life Science)</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database follows community-relevant best practices</td><td>Linked <a href="/pages/-MkbNjeABrfNMQOAT4rv#standards">reporting guidelines</a> where at least one subject tag is <em><strong>identical to</strong></em> or <em><strong>a child of</strong></em> at least one of the subject tags within the database record.</td><td>ARK: <a href="https://fairsharing.org/8856">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource follows community-relevant best practices</a><br><br>LS-ARK: <a href="https://fairsharing.org/8858">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource follows community-relevant best practices (Life Science)</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database adopts one or more community or general standards to provide at least a minimal level of structured (meta)data</td><td>Presence of any linked <a href="/pages/-MkbNjeABrfNMQOAT4rv#standards">terminology, model/format, or reporting guideline</a>.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8859">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource adopts one or more community or general standards</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database provides support through user-facing help documentation</td><td><a href="/pages/-MkbWb-D7lVjXM3h5Buy">Support links</a> include at least one Help Documentation entry.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8860">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource provides support through user-facing help documentation</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database provides community support channels</td><td><a href="/pages/-MkbWb-D7lVjXM3h5Buy">Support links</a> include one or more of GitHub, mailing list, forum, Facebook, blog/news, or Twitter/X.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8861">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource provides community support channels</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database supports community interaction</td><td><a href="/pages/-MkbWb-D7lVjXM3h5Buy">Support links</a> include the presence of community discussion channels such as forum, Facebook, or Twitter/X.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8861">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource supports community interaction</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database demonstrates external trust or recognition</td><td>Presence of one or more <a href="/pages/Jk7L4ebzFgMDfuo4lFiB">badges or certifications</a>.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8864">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Database demonstrates external trust or recognition</a></td></tr><tr><td>🏛</td><td>Database provides training resources</td><td><a href="/pages/-MkbWb-D7lVjXM3h5Buy">Support links</a> include the presence of training information or linked TeSS resources.</td><td><a href="https://fairsharing.org/8863">FAIR Metric - R1.3 - Metadata - Resource provides training resources</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

**Future Work**

Future iterations of the ARK-based benchmarks may introduce stricter interpretations of standards adoption. For example, evaluations may distinguish between databases that merely reference standards and those that explicitly accept, implement, require, or validate against those standards. Such distinctions are not currently represented consistently within FAIRsharing and are therefore not part of the current benchmark definitions.