dataset_df: Create a new 'dataset_df' object
In dataset: Create Data Frames for Exchange and Reuse

dataset_df

R Documentation

Create a new `dataset_df` object

Description

The dataset_df() constructor creates semantically rich modern data frames. These inherit from tibble::tibble and carry structured metadata using attributes.

Usage

dataset_df(
  ...,
  identifier = c(obs = "http://example.com/dataset#obs"),
  var_labels = NULL,
  units = NULL,
  concepts = NULL,
  dataset_bibentry = NULL,
  dataset_subject = NULL
)

as_dataset_df(
  df,
  identifier = c(obs = "http://example.com/dataset#obs"),
  var_labels = NULL,
  units = NULL,
  concepts = NULL,
  dataset_bibentry = NULL,
  dataset_subject = NULL,
  ...
)

is.dataset_df(x)

## S3 method for class 'dataset_df'
print(x, ...)

is_dataset_df(x)

Arguments

`...`	Vectors (columns) that should be included in the dataset.
`identifier`	A named vector of one or more URI prefixes for row IDs. Defaults to `c(eg = "http://example.com/dataset#")`. For example, if your dataset will be published under DOI `⁠https://doi.org/1234⁠`, you may use `c(obs = "https://doi.org/1234#")`, which will generate row URIs such as `⁠https://doi.org/1234#1⁠`, ..., `⁠#n⁠`.
`var_labels`	A named list of human-readable labels for each variable.
`units`	A named list of measurement units for measured variables.
`concepts`	A named list of linked concepts (URIs) for variables or dimensions.
`dataset_bibentry`	A bibliographic metadata record for the dataset, created using `datacite()` or `dublincore()`.
`dataset_subject`	A subject descriptor created with `subject()` or `subject_create()`.
`df`	A `data.frame` to convert to a `dataset_df`.
`x`	A `dataset_df` object (used in method dispatch).

Details

Use is.dataset_df() to check class membership.

S3 methods for dataset_df include:

print() to display the dataset with metadata
summary() to summarize both data and metadata

For full details, see vignette("dataset_df", package = "dataset").

Value

A dataset_df object: a tibble with attached metadata stored in attributes.

is.dataset_df returns a logical value (if the object is of class dataset_df.)

Note

A simple, serverless scaffolding for publishing dataset_df objects on the web (with HTML + RDF exports) is available at https://github.com/dataobservatory-eu/dataset-template.

Examples

my_dataset <- dataset_df(
  country_name = defined(
    c("AD", "LI"),
    concept = "http://data.europa.eu/bna/c_6c2bb82d",
    namespace = "https://www.geonames.org/countries/$1/"
  ),
  gdp = defined(
    c(3897, 7365),
    label = "Gross Domestic Product",
    unit = "million dollars",
    concept = "http://data.europa.eu/83i/aa/GDP"
  ),
  identifier = c(
    obs = "https://dataobservatory-eu.github.io/dataset-template#"
  ),
  dataset_bibentry = dublincore(
    title = "GDP of Andorra and Liechtenstein",
    description = "A small but semantically rich dataset example.",
    creator = person("Jane", "Doe", role = "cre"),
    publisher = "Open Data Institute",
    language = "en"
  )
)

# Basic usage
print(my_dataset)
head(my_dataset)
summary(my_dataset)

# Metadata access
as_dublincore(my_dataset)
as_datacite(my_dataset)

# Export description as RDF triples
my_description <- describe(my_dataset, con = tempfile())
my_description

dataset documentation built on Nov. 16, 2025, 5:06 p.m.