Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is a standardized markup language used in the field of archives and libraries for the description of archival materials. It provides a structured framework for encoding finding aids, which are inventories or guides created to help researchers access and navigate collections of archival materials.
EAD serves as a tool to create machine-readable finding aids, with the purpose of enhancing access to archival resources. Developed in the late 1990s, EAD uses the Extensible Markup Language (XML) to structure and describe archival finding aids, enabling consistent and interconnected access to diverse collections.
Within an EAD document, archival materials are described through a hierarchy of elements, such as collections, series, or files. These elements contain a range of metadata, including information about the content, provenance, arrangement, and access points of the materials. EAD also allows for the inclusion of descriptive notes, controlled vocabularies, and external links to related resources.
By using a standardized format like EAD, archivists and librarians can facilitate search and discovery of archival materials across institutions and enable efficient sharing of information. EAD documents can be queried by software systems, facilitating the retrieval of specific information within collections or across multiple repositories. This simplifies the research process for scholars, students, and other users seeking to explore the vast resources preserved in archival institutions.
