Training modules/dashboard/slides/12506-open-data-versus-linked-data

Open Data vs Linked Data

Remember: "Open data" is not synonymous with "linked data." Open data refers to data published without restrictions or control mechanisms. Documents (like PDFs or DOCs) can be published as open data, but that doesn't mean that they follow linked data standards. Documents can be published with closed standards like copyright or a form of encryption. Similarly, linked data does not have to be open. Linked data can exist in a password-protected system or exist on a local server, but still follow linked data formatting. Although these phrases refer to different concepts, combining them is very powerful. Wikidata happens to both follow open data standards (CC0) and contain linked data.