dcatdistribution

DCAT distribution, represented by the class dcat:Distribution, is a resource that describes a concrete data representation of a dataset. In a DCAT catalog, a dataset can have zero or more distributions, linked via the dcat:distribution property to separate distribution resources. Each distribution identifies a particular form in which the dataset can be accessed or retrieved, such as a downloadable CSV file, a JSON API response, an RDF serialization, or a SPARQL endpoint.

Common properties describe how to obtain and interpret the distribution. The dcat:downloadURL provides a direct URL to download the distribution, while dcat:accessURL points to a service or endpoint that can be used to access the distribution, which may be a streaming URL or an API endpoint. The dcat:byteSize records the size of the distribution in bytes. The dcterms:format property links to a dct:Format resource that describes the representation format, for example text/csv or application/json. Additional metadata may include dcterms:issued and dcterms:modified dates, and licensing or provenance information via other Dublin Core terms.

Distributions enable catalogs to offer multiple representations of the same dataset, allowing users to choose the most suitable format or access method. The concept supports interoperability across catalogs by standardizing how a data representation is described and accessed, making DCAT a useful framework for publishing and discovering data resources.