Encoded Archival Description

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is a standardized digital format used by archivists to organize and share detailed information about collections of archival materials. Think of it as a digital "listing" or "catalog" that records what items are in an archive, their context, and how they relate to each other. EAD makes it easier for researchers, librarians, and the public to find, understand, and access historical records and documents across different institutions by providing consistent, structured descriptions in a machine-readable format.