What is open data

Open data is publicly available information placed on the Internet for repeated, free, and free of charge use in the form of machine-readable systematized data, in a format that allows for automated processing.
The key characteristics of openness are:

1. Availability and access: the data should be available in general and at no more than the reasonable cost of reproduction, preferably by downloading over the Internet. The data should also be available in a convenient and modifiable form.
2. Reuse and distribution: the data should be made available on terms that allow reuse and distribution, including mixing with other data sets.
3. Data must be machine-readable.
4. Universal participation: everyone should be able to use, reuse, and redistribute the data, i.e., there should be no discrimination against areas of activity or individuals or groups. For example, no “non-commercial” restrictions preventing “commercial” use, or restrictions on use for certain purposes (e.g., only in education) are allowed.

Sources:

1. https://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/

2. https://okfn.org/opendata/