The Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) is an informatics platform designed to facilitate the acquisition, storage, analysis, and publication of DNA barcode records. It bridges the gap between molecular, morphological, and distributional data, aiding in species identification and discovery. BOLD is freely available to researchers and supports the assembly of records that meet the standards required for global sequence databases. Key features include persistent linkage between barcode sequences and their source specimens, secure data storage, and flexible data security. BOLD also provides specialized services, such as data management, quality assurance, and collaboration tools, to support large-scale research projects. The system has evolved from a single facility to a resource for the entire DNA barcoding community, with over 65,000 lines of code written in Java, C++, and PHP. It runs on a Linux environment with a PostgreSQL relational database. BOLD supports various data submission methods, including online forms and standardized spreadsheets, and offers tools for data review, analysis, and visualization. The system includes a Management and Analysis System (MAS), an Identification System (IDS), and an External Connectivity System (ECS) for web services and data integration. Computational resources are substantial, with 60 processor cores and six terabytes of storage, and future plans include significant expansion to support a larger user community and more records. The article concludes by discussing the prospects for BOLD in advancing DNA barcoding and its potential impact on biodiversity research and conservation.The Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) is an informatics platform designed to facilitate the acquisition, storage, analysis, and publication of DNA barcode records. It bridges the gap between molecular, morphological, and distributional data, aiding in species identification and discovery. BOLD is freely available to researchers and supports the assembly of records that meet the standards required for global sequence databases. Key features include persistent linkage between barcode sequences and their source specimens, secure data storage, and flexible data security. BOLD also provides specialized services, such as data management, quality assurance, and collaboration tools, to support large-scale research projects. The system has evolved from a single facility to a resource for the entire DNA barcoding community, with over 65,000 lines of code written in Java, C++, and PHP. It runs on a Linux environment with a PostgreSQL relational database. BOLD supports various data submission methods, including online forms and standardized spreadsheets, and offers tools for data review, analysis, and visualization. The system includes a Management and Analysis System (MAS), an Identification System (IDS), and an External Connectivity System (ECS) for web services and data integration. Computational resources are substantial, with 60 processor cores and six terabytes of storage, and future plans include significant expansion to support a larger user community and more records. The article concludes by discussing the prospects for BOLD in advancing DNA barcoding and its potential impact on biodiversity research and conservation.