born-digital material

Born-digital material refers to content that was created and exists exclusively in digital form from the outset, rather than being originally made in physical formats like paper or film. Examples include emails, social media posts, digital photographs, websites, and electronic documents. Because these materials are inherently digital, they often require specialized preservation methods to ensure they are accessible and intact over time. Understanding born-digital materials is important for digital archiving, cybersecurity, and information management, as their format and technology can change rapidly, affecting how they are stored, accessed, and preserved for future use.