Repository (data)

A repository is a way of storing information related to a file system. For version control software (VCS), it is used to store information about files, their size, date of creation, and any changes made to them (often called "commits"). Common examples of software that use repositories are Git and Mercurial, but others do exist.

A repository can be stored on a person's computer locally (not on the internet), but it can also be stored remotely (on a network or the internet). One of the most popular websites for hosting repositories is GitHub, however others such as GitLab exist. If a person wants to use a public repository on these kinds of websites, they can "clone" the repository onto their computer. This creates a copy of the repository, and all of the files (usually computer code) related to it. A person can then make changes to the repository, and they can "commit" those changes to their local repository (which means that their changes are recorded in the repository's history). If they wish to update the remote repository (the one stored online) they can "push" their changes to it. This updates the repository on the website or network location.

 General meaning 
A data repository is a place where data is stored and managed. It can hold many kinds of data, such as files, records, or research information. A data repository helps people keep data safe and easy to find.

There are different types of data repositories. Some examples are open research repositories like Zenodo or Dryad, digital libraries, research data stores, and cloud storage systems. Many researchers use data repositories to store and share their data with others. This makes it easier for people to check work, reuse data, or build new research from it.

A data repository can also provide tools to help organize data. These tools can let users search for files, keep different versions, and set rules for who can see or change the data.

Related pages
 CTAN - Repository for LaTeX

Other websites
 GitHub

Category:Computing
Category:Computer science