# Understanding the HDX dataset page
This section explains how to interpret the information provided on HDX dataset pages and better understand the data being shared. Each dataset page consists of three main sections - 1) the dataset page header, 2) Additional information containing the metadata for the dataset and 3) the Data and Resources section.
#### 1. Dataset page header
* **Dataset title -** The dataset title typically includes the location and topic, such as "Afghanistan - Health Indicators" or "Nigeria - Food Prices".
* **'Get Notified' button -** Click this button to subscribe to email notifications about changes to this dataset. See the Notifications page for more information.
* **Dataset description -** Provides details about the dataset, including its purpose, context and potential use.
* **Organization logo -** The logo of the organization that shared the dataset. Click on the logo to go to the organization page on HDX.
* **Downloads count -** The total number of times the dataset has been downloaded.
* **Contact the contributor -** Click this link to send a message to the person or team responsible for the dataset. See the 'Contact the contributor' section below for information..
* **The data preview feature -** The HDX system will create a map automatically from geodata formats that it recognizes. Here is an [example of geodata](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/hotosm_lbn_roads) showing the preview feature.
#### 2. Additional information
The "Additional information" panel on the left side of the page contains metadata about the dataset.
* **Time period of the dataset -** The date range that the data covers. For example, "01 January 2020 - 31 December 2024" means the data either contains information from that time period or is valid for that period.
* **Modified date -** The date the data contributor last updated the file.
* **Dataset Added on HDX -** The date that the datasets were first added to HDX.
* **Expected update frequency -** The frequency at which the data contributor plans to update the dataset. A green leaf icon ("freshness") indicates that the dataset contains the latest available data.
* **Location -** The country or countries the data relates to. Click the location name to go to the location page and find related datasets.
* **Source -** The organization that collected or produced the data.
* **Contributor -** The organization responsible for publishing the data on HDX, also represented by the logo at the top of the page.
* **Methodology** - Information about how the data was collected or processed. A list of the types of methodology is linked here.
* **Caveats / Comments -** Important notes about the data, such as known issues, limitations, or special considerations for use.
* **License -** The open data license under which the data is available. See the section below on 'Understanding data licenses'.
* **Tags -** A tag is a term that a data contributor adds to a dataset’s metadata to describe or categorize the data. HDX maintains a list of approved tags here.
* **File Format -** The file format(s) the data is available in. HDX supports a range of file formats, a complete list of which you can find here.
* **Visibility -** Visibility metadata shows whether the dataset is public or private. Public data is openly available to download and access on HDX. Private datasets are only visible to members of an organization on HDX.
Below the Additional information section, you can find links to export the dataset metadata in JSON or CSV format.
#### 3. Data and Resources
This section lists all the files available for the dataset.
Each resource shows:
* **Resource name and file size -** The name describes the file contents. The file size is shown in parentheses.
* **Modified date -** When the resource was last updated.
* **Resource ID -** A unique identifier for the data resource. Click the copy icon to copy this ID, which is useful for API and programmatic access. Find out more about Resource ID in the Build with HDX section.
* **Resource description -** Provides specific details about the resource, including its purpose, context and potential use.
* **API button -** Only shows on a tabular resource available through our Tabular Data Endpoint (TDE) API. Clicking the button reveals a Modal which contains a link to the TDE documentation, the Resource ID and an example query.
* **Download button -** Click to download the file locally and directly to your computer.
* **More options menu (...)** - Click the three dots to access additional options:\
\
\[Screenshot: Data preview showing tabular data with columns and rows]
* **Preview on HDX -** View the data in your browser without downloading (available for CSV and some tabular formats) The preview shows column headers, first rows of data and total number of rows and columns. This helps you quickly check whether the data structure meets your needs before downloading. The preview also includes the full File URL for the resource which you can use to add data to PowerBI (see Power BI section)
* **Export Metadata -** You can export the metadata for each resource in either JSON or CSV.
Additional features on the dataset page:
* **Downloads chart -** A small chart to the left of the dataset page showing downloads over recent months.
* **Related Showcases -** If you have a data visualization, documentation or related material in PDF format, you can add it as a showcase item on the dataset page.
* **Activity -** Click the Activity toggle to see a timeline of changes to the dataset, including when resources were added, updated, or removed.
## Finding out more about datasets
‘Contact the contributor’ lets users send inquiries directly to data contributors. This feature is available on all dataset pages and is located below the organization logo. If you are not already a registered user, you will be prompted to sign up before a message can be sent. Inquiries can be anything from a general question about a dataset to reporting a problem such as a broken link. The HDX team receives a copy of all messages sent through this feature.
#### Using the 'Contact the contributor' form
Click on the ‘Contact the contributor’ link on any dataset page. If you're not already logged in, you will be prompted to log in or register before the form appears.
**Fill out all sections of the form.**
* **Your inquiry is regarding -** A dropdown to categorize your message:
* General question
* Metadata
* Problem report
* Suggested edits
* **Your name and email address -** Where the contributor can reply
* **Comments -** The body of your message.
**Click Submit**
Note: It is the responsibility of the contributor to respond to you and the HDX team may not be included in further correspondence.
For general questions about HDX itself (rather than specific datasets), email .
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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.humdata.org/find/find-data/understanding-the-hdx-dataset-page.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.