Open Data
Open Data refers to data that is freely available for anyone to access, use, and share, typically under an open license that permits unrestricted reuse. It is often published by governments, organizations, or individuals to promote transparency, innovation, and collaboration. The concept emphasizes machine-readable formats and minimal restrictions to maximize utility for developers, researchers, and the public.
Developers should learn about Open Data to build applications that leverage public datasets for social good, research, or business insights, such as creating civic tech tools, data visualizations, or AI models. It is essential when working on projects that require access to large-scale, real-world data without licensing barriers, like in government transparency initiatives, academic research, or open-source software development.