Tekstoplysninger

Tekstoplysninger is a term used in Norwegian and Danish to describe information that is provided in text form and accompanies a record, item, or document. It refers to descriptive, narrative content as opposed to structured data fields such as codes, dates, or numerical values. Tekstoplysninger can include descriptions, explanations, usage instructions, warnings, or background information.

In practice, tekstoplysninger are used in various contexts to give users or readers a fuller understanding of an object or topic. In public administration, product catalogs, manuals, and legal documents, text-based information explains purposes, conditions, procedures, and context that cannot be fully captured by structured data alone. They are essential for accessibility, decision-making, and user guidance, and they often accompany metadata or data records in databases and content management systems.

Characteristics of tekstoplysninger include their typically free-form or semi-structured nature, their potential to span multiple paragraphs, and their importance for readability and interpretation. They are commonly stored as text fields in information systems, can be retrieved in search operations, and may require considerations for encoding (such as UTF-8) and localization to different languages.

Best practices for tekstoplysninger involve writing clearly and concisely, avoiding redundancy with structured data, and organizing content for skimming and thorough reading. It is also important to maintain consistency across related records, manage translations, and implement version control to reflect updates and corrections.

See also: metadata, free text field, description, documentation.