DNFformatet

DNFformatet is a standardized data format intended to represent race results in which one or more competitors did not finish (DNF). It aims to provide a compact, machine-readable representation that records event metadata, participant identifiers, result status, final times when applicable, split times, penalties, and optional textual reasons for non-finish. The format is designed to facilitate interoperability among timing systems, results portals, and archival databases.

The format emerged from collaborative efforts within sports data standardization communities to improve consistency in result reporting. It has been shaped by input from timing companies, national and international sport federations, and open-source contributors. The core specification is published as an open standard to enable exchange between different software tools and data stores.

Structure and core concepts: DNFformatet uses a hierarchical data model centered on entities such as Event, Participant, and Result. A Result includes a status field (for example, FINISHED, DNF, DNS), a time field when applicable, and optional splits, pace information, or completion flags. If a participant did not finish, the time may be omitted or set to a best-known value, while the status clearly indicates the outcome. Additional fields can cover penalties, disqualification reasons, equipment category, and contextual metadata.

Usage and impact: The format is intended to be adopted by timing agencies, event organizers, and results portals to ensure consistent data exchange and long-term accessibility. Benefits include clearer interpretation of non-finish outcomes and easier aggregation of statistics across events. Potential drawbacks involve the need for consistent reporting of reasons for DNF and the learning curve for systems implementing the standard.

See also: Did Not Finish, Did Not Start, Race results formats.