[cdif-community] Release of the Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF) Version 1.1

Asha CODATA asha at codata.org
Tue Jun 9 10:43:23 EDT 2026 

CODATA <https://codata.org/> is pleased to announce that — to coincide with
the launch of the CDIF4EOSC project <https://www.cdif4eosc.eu/> — Version
1.1 of the Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF) has just been
released, and can be found at https://cdif.codata.org.

Version 1.1 represents a substantial enhancement of the CDIF
recommendations, with increased support for FAIR functional requirements,
and a new technical approach, featuring validation tools and improved
documentation. While a significant step forward, resulting from two years
of implementation and further development since the initial CDIF release in
May 2024 <https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11236871>, version 1.1 is also
forward-looking: the CDIF4EOSC project has just started, and will drive the
next major round of CDIF developments. To support this, improvements to
date have been consolidated in version 1.1 and will provide a baseline for
further developments led by the CDIF4EOSC project.

After the initial work in the WorldFAIR project
<https://worldfair-project.eu/>, resulting in the release of CDIF version
1.0, the WorldFAIR+ Initiative
<https://codata.org/initiatives/making-data-work/worldfair-2/> continued
testing and development of the framework. CDIF has been used in several
different projects, including the OSCARS-funded
<https://oscars-project.eu/projects/cdif-4-xas-describing-x-ray-spectroscopy-data-cross-domain-use>
 CDIF4XAS project
<https://codata.org/initiatives/making-data-work/worldfair-2/cdif-4-xas/> on
X-ray absorption spectroscopy, implementation in the Climate-Adapt4EOSC
project <https://climate-adapt4eosc.eu/>, the International Science Council
supported project on Disaster Relief and Preparedness in Malawi
<https://codata.org/initiatives/making-data-work/worldfair-2/fair-data-and-emergencies/>,
an ADA astro-materials prototype, and several others. Feedback from these
projects has been incorporated in version 1.1, as have requested minor
changes to some of the standards recommended for use. Version 1.1 may not
be a major version change, but it represents a significant improvement in
the maturity of the recommendations.

Changes in the scope and coverage of CDIF are:

   - Identification of a set of Core fields
   <https://cross-domain-interoperability-framework.github.io/cdifbook/metadata/core/>,
   for use in all profiles
   - Addition of support for binary data file such as HDF5, NetCDF, and
   Parquet
   - Inclusion of the Manifest profile
   <https://cross-domain-interoperability-framework.github.io/cdifbook/manifest/manifest/>,
   to enable packaging of resources into FAIR Digital Objects (FDOs) using RO
   Crate or similar packaging technologies
   - Reorganization of the Data Description profile
   <https://cross-domain-interoperability-framework.github.io/cdifbook/data-description/datadescriptionprofile/>
to
   cover the publication of reusable data structure descriptions and variables
   with DDI-CDI
   - Increased nuance in the description of controlled vocabularies with
   SKOS: Codelist
   <https://cross-domain-interoperability-framework.github.io/cdifbook/controlled-vocabularies/codelistprofile/>
    and Concept Scheme
   <https://cross-domain-interoperability-framework.github.io/cdifbook/controlled-vocabularies/conceptprofile/>
profiles
   express the difference between lists of enumerated values used in data, and
   broader semantic resources

These features complement the existing capability to support FAIR access
with ODRL and discovery and cataloguing using Schema.org. While significant
work has been undertaken in the description of provenance information, this
is not yet included in this release, nor is the upcoming revision to the
Access profile. These profiles — along with several other enhancements for
the description of Units of Measure, integration with Croissant for use by
agentic AI, and a more-complete implementation using DCAT — are expected to
be released soon. The CDIF4EOSC project will add additional support for
describing data quality, context and complex variables (using (I-ADOPT),
packaging (using RO-Crates), semantic mapping, and software resources.

Importantly in the CDIF 1.1 release, there is significant increase in the
set of specific artefacts to support developers. CDIF Profiles now have a
set of implementation tools and documentation, including:

   - Detailed descriptions of each recommended metadata field
   - SHACL rules for validation of JSON-LD instances
   - JSON Schema for validation of JSON-LD instances
   - JSON-LD Frames and Python tools for populating them
   - A set of example instances
   - Graphical documentation of the JSON Schema implementation

The production system for CDIF is now being transitioned to a UML
Model-driven architecture, where a detailed model serves as the integrated
source for all profiles, ensuring consistency across the entire set of
implementation artefacts and alignment of metadata objects across different
profiles and standards. All the various validation tools and documentation
will be generated from this model. It is expected that the set of
implementation tools will also be increased as CDIF continues to grow, with
a major development effort being included in the CDIF4EOSC project.

CDIF version 1.1 establishes a strong basis for the implementation of
systems to enable FAIR exchange across domain and infrastructure boundaries
and paves the way for even greater future developments.


Thanks,

Asha
--
___________________________

*Call for applications to host International Data Week 2029, deadline 2 Nov
2026*
<https://codata.org/call-for-applications-to-host-international-data-week-2029/>

*CDIF4EOSC is Underway!
<https://codata.org/cdif4eosc-is-underway/> The CDIF4EOSC project Kick-Off
Meeting took place on Weds 3 June
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/cdif4eosc/posts/>*

*The Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF) v.1.1 is now public!*
<https://cdif.codata.org/>

May 2026 publications
<https://codata.org/may-2026-publications-in-the-data-science-journal/> in
the CODATA Data Science Journal <https://datascience.codata.org/>


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___________________________

Asha Law | Program Assistant, CODATA | http://www.codata.org

E-Mail: asha at codata.org
Tel (Office): +33 1 45 25 04 96

CODATA (Committee on Data of the International Science Council), 5 rue
Auguste Vacquerie, 75016 Paris, FRANCE
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