Description:
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is the international metadata transmission standard for hierarchical descriptions of archival records. Developed by the EAD Working Group of the Society of American Archivists and first published in 1998, EAD is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) format used by archivists around the globe.
The development of EAD made it possible to create electronic finding aids within a specifically archival data structure compliant with General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)). This innovation was a crucial impetus behind the swift migration of archival description to the internet, the acceptance of national archival descriptive content standards like Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), and the emergence of a professional consensus that archival description existed to be shared widely and shared well.
Version EAD3 supersedes earlier versions. Those new to EAD as well as seasoned users will need this latest version of the Tag Library. The changes in EAD3 are extensive. There are many new features that enhance functionality and interoperability, including new elements and attributes.
