dcatdownloadURL

dcatdownloadURL, commonly written with the namespace prefix as dcat:downloadURL, is a property in the Data Catalog Vocabulary (DCAT) used to provide a direct URL for downloading a distribution’s resource. In a DCAT catalog, a dataset is described by one or more distributions (dcat:Distribution); each distribution may include a downloadURL value to indicate the exact file or resource that can be downloaded.

The statement dcat:downloadURL points to an explicit download link, typically an IRI (URL) to a file such as CSV, JSON, or ZIP. This value is intended to be a direct, executable download without requiring additional user interaction beyond requesting the URL. It is distinct from dcat:accessURL, which may identify a page or service through which the distribution is accessed or retrieved, rather than the raw file itself.

Usage and best practices: Use dcat:downloadURL when a stable, direct link to the downloadable file is available. If the distribution is accessed through a service or API, or if the distribution requires a form of user interaction, dcat:accessURL may be more appropriate. Catalogs can include multiple distributions, each with its own downloadURL when multiple downloadable resources exist.

Example: a distribution ex:dist1 a dcat:Distribution; dcat:downloadURL <https://example.org/data.csv>; dct:format "text/csv". DCAT records may also include other metadata such as dct:title, dct:description, and dct:license to provide context around the downloadable resource.

See also: DCAT, dcat:Distribution, dcat:accessURL, dct:format.