datasoort

Datasoort is a conceptual framework used in data management to classify data items by type and similarity, enabling structured organization and efficient retrieval within databases, data catalogs, and analytics platforms.

The term combines data with the Dutch word soort, meaning kind or type, reflecting its emphasis on categorization by data kind.

A datasoort model typically supports multi-dimensional classification. Key attributes may include data domain (e.g., customer, transaction, sensor), sensitivity level, update frequency, retention policy, quality indicators, and lineage. The framework can represent hierarchies (parent/child) and flat tag-based groupings, and it may support both deterministic mappings and probabilistic similarity scores to group related items.

In practice, datasoort supports data catalogs, governance workflows, metadata management, search stratification, and data quality monitoring. It can help align data assets with business domains and regulatory requirements, and improve discovery and access control.

Implementations vary across organizations and tools. Interoperability depends on clear definitions, consistent naming conventions, and integration with existing schemas and metadata standards. It is often used in conjunction with taxonomy and ontology approaches.

Because datasoort is not a universally standardized concept, the term may be used differently in different contexts, and its value depends on governance maturity and tool support.

See also: data taxonomy, metadata, data governance, data catalog, ontology.