Open Data Portal
An open data portal is a web-based platform that provides public access to datasets published by governments, organizations, or institutions, typically in machine-readable formats like CSV, JSON, or XML. It enables users to search, browse, download, and sometimes visualize or analyze data on topics such as demographics, transportation, health, and environment. These portals often include APIs for programmatic access and metadata to describe the datasets.
Developers should learn about open data portals when building applications that leverage public data for civic tech, research, or business intelligence, such as creating dashboards, mobile apps, or data-driven visualizations. They are essential for accessing reliable, structured data from authoritative sources, which can reduce data collection efforts and support transparency initiatives. For example, a developer might use an open data portal to integrate real-time transit data into a navigation app or analyze government spending for a transparency tool.