Darwin Core is a community-developed data standard for biodiversity information, designed to facilitate the sharing and integration of data across diverse sources. It was first developed in 1999 as a set of loosely defined terms and has since evolved through multiple iterations, becoming a formal standard in 2009. The standard includes nine categories of terms, covering aspects such as events, locations, and taxonomic information, and is structured to be simple and open, with terms added only when there is shared demand. Darwin Core is used widely, with over 300 million records indexed by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) from more than 340 organizations in 43 countries. Darwin Core is compatible with other standards, such as Dublin Core, and has been extended to cover new research areas like metagenomics and genetic resources. It supports both simple and relational data structures, allowing for flexible use in various contexts. The standard is maintained through community processes, with changes proposed, discussed, and reviewed publicly before being implemented. Darwin Core is also used in new research communities, such as the Nordic Genetic Resource Center and Bioversity International, where it has been extended to include specialized terms for genetic resources. Darwin Core is essential for biodiversity research, enabling the integration of data from diverse sources and supporting large-scale analyses. It has been used in projects such as the Map of Life, which aggregates species distribution data and provides tools for visualization and analysis. The standard is also being extended to cover genomic data through collaboration with the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC), allowing for the integration of DNA-level observations. Darwin Core is a living standard that continues to evolve to meet the needs of biodiversity research. It plays a crucial role in making biodiversity data accessible, interoperable, and reusable, supporting a wide range of scientific endeavors. The standard is maintained through community input and has been adopted by numerous organizations, demonstrating its importance in the field of biodiversity science.Darwin Core is a community-developed data standard for biodiversity information, designed to facilitate the sharing and integration of data across diverse sources. It was first developed in 1999 as a set of loosely defined terms and has since evolved through multiple iterations, becoming a formal standard in 2009. The standard includes nine categories of terms, covering aspects such as events, locations, and taxonomic information, and is structured to be simple and open, with terms added only when there is shared demand. Darwin Core is used widely, with over 300 million records indexed by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) from more than 340 organizations in 43 countries. Darwin Core is compatible with other standards, such as Dublin Core, and has been extended to cover new research areas like metagenomics and genetic resources. It supports both simple and relational data structures, allowing for flexible use in various contexts. The standard is maintained through community processes, with changes proposed, discussed, and reviewed publicly before being implemented. Darwin Core is also used in new research communities, such as the Nordic Genetic Resource Center and Bioversity International, where it has been extended to include specialized terms for genetic resources. Darwin Core is essential for biodiversity research, enabling the integration of data from diverse sources and supporting large-scale analyses. It has been used in projects such as the Map of Life, which aggregates species distribution data and provides tools for visualization and analysis. The standard is also being extended to cover genomic data through collaboration with the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC), allowing for the integration of DNA-level observations. Darwin Core is a living standard that continues to evolve to meet the needs of biodiversity research. It plays a crucial role in making biodiversity data accessible, interoperable, and reusable, supporting a wide range of scientific endeavors. The standard is maintained through community input and has been adopted by numerous organizations, demonstrating its importance in the field of biodiversity science.