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Datasheet for datasets

By Updated

Documentation that accompanies a dataset with its motivation, composition, collection process, preprocessing, uses, distribution and maintenance, as proposed by Gebru and colleagues 1; the human-readable companion to the dataset admission record and the data card.

Developed in
ch. 14, Model cards, system cards and datasheets
Chapters
ch. 14, Development
Contrast with
Data card
Source
1 numbered reference, listed below

Where it is used

The term is not used under this name in running prose; the sections listed under "Developed in" treat it.

Datasheet for datasets: related terms and patternsThe term at the centre; related terms on solid edges, the terms it is contrasted with on dashed edges, and the patterns that use it most in the colour of their layer.RelatedContrastDatasheet for datasetsRelated terms (2)Model card · RelatedModel cardSystem card · RelatedSystem cardContrast with (1)Data card · ContrastData card
Datasheet for datasets: related terms and patternsThe term at the centre; related terms on solid edges, the terms it is contrasted with on dashed edges, and the patterns that use it most in the colour of their layer.RelatedContrastRelated terms (2)Model card · RelatedModel cardSystem card · RelatedSystem cardContrast with (1)Data card · ContrastData cardDatasheet fordatasets
The term's neighbourhood Terms related to this one on solid edges, terms it is often confused with on dashed edges, and the patterns that use it most in the colour of their layer. Follow a dashed edge to check the distinction before you use either term.
Neighbourhood as a table
Neighbourhood of Datasheet for datasets
FamilyItemRelation
Related termsModel cardRelated
Related termsSystem cardRelated
Contrast withData cardContrast
  • Model card

    Structured, versioned documentation of a model (provenance, intended use, capabilities, evaluations and known failure modes) maintained as code.

  • System card

    Documentation of a deployed AI system as a whole (models, prompts, retrieval, tools, guardrails and oversight), where a model card documents one model.

Sources

  1. [1] Datasheets for Datasets (Gebru et al.; arXiv 1803.09010). arXiv. 2018-03-23. https://arxiv.org/abs/1803.09010 (verified: primary)

Definitions of legal terms paraphrase the cited text, which governs. Dated statements are as of .

Cite this term

García Aibar, J. (2026). Datasheet for datasets. In AI Governance Engineering: The Thesis & Body of Knowledge (v0.5.0), Glossary. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22956197. https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/datasheet-for-datasets. CC BY 4.0

BibTeX

@misc{aige2026datasheetfordatasets,
  author  = {Jorge García Aibar},
  title   = {{Datasheet for datasets}},
  note    = {Glossary, AI Governance Engineering: The Thesis \& Body of Knowledge, version 0.5.0},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.5281/zenodo.22956197},
  url     = {https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/datasheet-for-datasets}
}