msDesc
msDesc is a manuscript description element used in digital textual encoding standards such as the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and the Music Encoding Initiative (MEI). It provides a structured way to encode metadata about a manuscript, focusing on description rather than full textual content. The element is intended to document the physical and bibliographic characteristics of a manuscript and to support scholarly access, comparison, and discovery.
In TEI, msDesc typically appears within the TEI header under sourceDesc as the primary container for manuscript
Common content encoded in msDesc includes identification details (such as shelf marks, catalog numbers, and repository
The purpose of msDesc is to facilitate interoperability, discoverability, and accurate cataloging across digital editions, libraries,