Data.gov is a metadata catalog. We provide information about federal datasets and links to where data is published. We do not own or manage the underlying data. If you have a question about a specific dataset, the publishing agency is the right contact.
See the links below for answers to common questions before reaching out.
Find and search for data
- Search the full catalog at catalog.data.gov.
- Use the filters on the right side of the catalog to narrow results by geography, keyword, organization, publisher, or geospatial vs. non-geospatial data. Note: "Organizations" includes federal agencies as well as non-federal entities such as states and cities.
- Click any keyword tag on a dataset page to search for similar datasets.
- Many dataset pages include a link to the publishing agency's own landing page, which may provide additional context about the data.
- Data.gov links to data hosted by federal agencies. If a dataset is unavailable, outdated, or incorrect, contact the agency listed on the dataset page.
Publish or update data (federal agencies)
- Guidance for publishing open data, including metadata standards and harvest setup, is available at resources.data.gov.
- For policy and compliance guidance, including OMB memoranda applicable to federal agencies, see the Guidance section of resources.data.gov.
- To register a harvest source, request a re-harvest, or view harvest status, visit harvest.data.gov or email DataGovHelp@gsa.gov.
- Metadata must conform to the DCAT-US schema. Validation tools and required fields are documented on resources.data.gov.
- Data.gov harvests on a schedule (daily, weekly, or monthly depending on your agency). Changes appear after the next successful harvest, not immediately.
API access
- To access the catalog.data.gov and harvest.data.gov APIs, register at open.gsa.gov/api/datadotgov. Full API documentation is available at resources.data.gov/catalog-api.
- The catalog API provides metadata about datasets (titles, descriptions, access URLs); it does not serve data files.
- To access APIs from other federal agencies, visit api.data.gov.
Data permissions and licensing
- Federal datasets are generally U.S. Government Works and can be used without restriction in the United States.
- Data.gov also links to datasets from state, local, and other non-federal sources, which may have different terms of use.
- Check the "Access and Use Information" section at the top of each dataset page for the applicable conditions.
Geospatial data
- Many datasets in the catalog are geospatial and are also covered by the Geospatial Data Act. The Federal Geographic Data Committee maintains geoplatform.gov, which harvests geospatial datasets from Data.gov.
- To filter for geospatial or non-geospatial datasets, use the filter panel on the right side of the catalog.
Report a broken link
- Data.gov does not host data files. Broken links point to files managed by the publishing agency.
- To report a broken link, first check the dataset page for an agency point of contact and reach out to them directly.
- If no point of contact is listed, email DataGovHelp@gsa.gov with the catalog page URL and the broken link and we will help connect you with the right agency.
Personal information and privacy
- Data.gov does not contain information about individuals. The catalog contains metadata about datasets only.
- If you found personal information in a specific dataset linked from Data.gov, email DataGovHelp@gsa.gov with the dataset name and we will connect you with the managing agency.
Still have questions? Email DataGovHelp@gsa.gov.
For questions about specific datasets, please contact the publishing agency directly. Their contact information is listed on the dataset page.
