Term Definition
Accession Date(Museology) This dateDate (Museology) The date range of the creation of the object. This value will have  'from', and 'to' key value pairs. of accessioningAccessioning (Museology) Accessioning is the formal process of accepting an object into the museum collection. is part of the objectObject (Museology) Artefact or specimen held in a museum collection. (Computer science) A software "bundle" consisting of a set of variables which define the states the object can exist in and a set of functions that define its behavior. recordRecord (Computer Science) A unit that groups together related items of data, for example all the fields that represent a museum collection object, and can give clues about the growth of a museum collectionCollection (Museology) Museums are distinguished by their collection of unique objects that form the core of their activities for exhibitions, education, and research. over time.
Accession Number(Museology) When an object is accessioned it receives a unique identifierUnique Identifier (Computer Science) A Unique Identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric string that is associated with a single entity within a given system called an Accession NumberAccession Number (Museology) When an object is accessioned it receives a unique identifier called an Accession Number. These numbers may codify the year the object was accessioned, the department, or if the object is part of a series of objects that form a whole. These numbers may codify the year the object was accessioned, the departmentDepartment (API) The section of the museum that an object is associated with., or if the object is part of a series of objectsObjects (API) The dataset containing all objects held within the Cooper Hewitt's online collection that form a whole
Accessioning(Museology) Accessioning is the formal process of accepting an object into the museum collection.
Agents(APIAPI (Computer Science) Application Programming Interface – a facility to allow a computer or application to access the data and/or functionality of another computer system or application) The data sourceSource (API) The origin of the data or object. representing constituentsConstituents (Museology) People, organizations, and companies related to the creation of a work in the collection are called Constituents and are also sometimes referred to as Agent depending on the museum. The most common Constituents in Cooper Hewitt's collection are: After, Architect, Artist, Attributed to, Author, Client, Collaborator, Collector, Company, Creator, Design Director, Design Team Member, Designer, Distributor, Draftsman, Embroiderer, Engraver, Etcher, Firm, For, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Maker, Manufacturer, Office of, Photographer, Print Maker, Printer, Producer, Publisher, Subject, Weaver. – people, organizations, and companies related to a work in the collection
Aggregations(Computer Science) Effectively a synonym for FacetFacet (Computer Science) A form of filter, grouped by field, that is responsive to the data contained within the result. For example, facets can show the number of records available containing the same terms and can update their contents depending on other filters / facets that have been applied.
API(Computer Science) ApplicationApplication (Computer Science) A computer software unit that provides functionality for particular use Programming Interface – a facility to allow a computer or application to access the data and/or functionality of another computer system or application
Application(Computer Science) A computer software unit that provides functionality for particular use
Arguments(Computer Science) Individual elements of information contained within a queryQuery (Computer Science) A query is a request for data or information from a database table or combination of tables, or an API that manages access to those tables, often structured as name / valueValue (Computer Science) The representation given to the corresponding entity, often the public description of the entity. pairs, e.g. titleTitle (Museology) The name given to the design or work of art.=”chair”
Birth

(API) The date of birthBirth (API) The date of birth for an agent for an agent

Boolean search(Computer Science) A technique for querying data using boolean logic to connect two or more argumentsArguments (Computer Science) Individual elements of information contained within a query, often structured as name / value pairs, e.g. title="chair". Common boolean terms are “AND” (both arguments must be present in the returned data) and “OR” (either one of the arguments can be present in the data)
Boolean Value(Computer Science) Boolean Values are used to determine True or False, and can be represented by a 1 (True) or a 0 (False). In cases where no data is entered, the resultResult (Computer Science) The data (in JSON format) that is returned by the API following a query. It will either contain records, or, if there is a problem with the query, an error message. will be ‘nullNull (Computer Science) No value or content’ or the equivalent to False
Call(Computer Science) The sending of a requestRequest (Computer Science) A structured instruction sent via a call to an API or other web service. The instruction can be simple (e.g. a web address) or complex (a search across several fields sent to an API) to an API
Catalogue(Museology) The collection of cultural property or material is normally catalogued in a collection catalog (or collections catalog). Traditionally this was done using a card index, but nowadays it is normally implemented using a computerized database (known as a collection database) and may even be made available online.
CCO(Museology) Images of objects marked as CC0 are in the public domain (free of copyrightCopyright (Museology) The status of an object's copyright is documented in the object record as image rights. This status determines what types of restrictions are applied to the reproduction of the image. restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian
Citation(Museology) Sometimes called the Tombstone, the citationCitation (Museology) Sometimes called the Tombstone, the citation is a condensed description of the object, containing the most important information about an object to be displayed when presenting the object in a gallery or online is a condensed descriptionDescription (API) Long-form, curatorial,  interpretive text created for context and additional descriptive elements. of the object, containing the most important information about an object to be displayed when presenting the object in a gallery or online
Classification(API)  A formal terminology that can be applied to any object. Objects can have more than one classificationClassification (API)  A formal terminology that can be applied to any object. Objects can have more than one classification..
Collection(Museology) Museums are distinguished by their collection of unique objects that form the core of their activities for exhibitions, education, and research.
Collection(Museology) Museums are distinguished by their collection of unique objects that form the core of their activities for exhibitions, education, and research.
Collection Data(Museology) Information about museum collections are often stored in collection management systems. This data can sometime be private, but most museums are striving to make as much of this data as public as possible.
collectionsOnlineId(API) A legacy ID specific to Cooper Hewitt’s collection site established in 2012
Constituents(Museology) People, organizations, and companies related to the creation of a work in the collection are called Constituents and are also sometimes referred to as Agent depending on the museum. The most common Constituents in Cooper Hewitt’s collection are: After, Architect, Artist, Attributed to, Author, Client, Collaborator, Collector, Company, Creator, Design Director, Design Team Member, Designer, Distributor, Draftsman, Embroiderer, Engraver, Etcher, Firm, For, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, MakerMaker (API) Creator of an object, Manufacturer, Office of, Photographer, Print Maker, Printer, Producer, Publisher, Subject, Weaver.
Copyright(Museology) The statusStatus (API) The state of the object as it refers to its ownership of the museum. The object may be accessioned, or on loan. of an object’s copyright is documented in the object record as image rights. This status determines what types of restrictions are applied to the reproduction of the image.
Data Analysis(Computer Science) The process of interpreting results, patterns, commonalities, outliers and other aspects of a data set to provide insights about the nature of that data, often aided by visualizations
Data type(Computer Science) Predefined formats for data contained within fieldsFields (Computer Science) The smallest container of information in a database. A field is named, e.g. "Title" or "Date" and each record contains a group of fields., for example “number”, “stringString (Computer Science) A string is a sequence of characters forming words or sentences” (text) or “date”
Datatype(Computer Science) A particular kind of data item, as defined by the values it can take, the programming language used, or the operations that can be performed on it. Predefined formats for data contained within fields, for example “number”, “string” (text) or “date”
Date(Museology) The date range of the creation of the object. This value will have  ‘from’, and ‘to’ key value pairs.
Department(API) The section of the museum that an object is associated with.
Description(API) Long-form, curatorial,  interpretive text created for context and additional descriptive elements.
Digital Collection(Museology) The Digital CollectionDigital Collection (Museology) The Digital Collection refers to the collection data that has been digitized and made available to the public. refers to the collection dataCollection Data (Museology) Information about museum collections are often stored in collection management systems. This data can sometime be private, but most museums are striving to make as much of this data as public as possible. that has been digitized and made available to the public.
Digital table text(API) Description to be used for in-gallery interactives when an object is shown to the public.
Digitization(Museology) The transfer of museum CatalogueCatalogue (Museology) The collection of cultural property or material is normally catalogued in a collection catalog (or collections catalog). Traditionally this was done using a card index, but nowadays it is normally implemented using a computerized database (known as a collection database) and may even be made available online. data and object imagery to a digital database is called DigitizationDigitization (Museology) The transfer of museum Catalogue data and object imagery to a digital database is called Digitization. High resolution scans and photography document the physical objects.. High resolution scans and photography document the physical objects.
Display Status(Museology) The Display StatusDisplay Status (Museology) The Display Status is the record of whether or not an object is On View in a gallery. The value will either be a 1, or a 0 for On Display, or Not On Display is the record of whether or not an object is On View in a gallery. The value will either be a 1, or a 0 for On Display, or Not On Display
ElasticSearch(Computer Science) An open source search engine that creates indexes of diverse data sources and provides a wide range of search functionality
Epitaph(Museology) See Citation
Exhibition(API) A listing of exhibitions where an object was part of the display.
Facet(Computer Science) A form of filterFilters (Computer Science) Methods to reduce the number of records in a data set to help refine the result to something more useful for the user, grouped by field, that is responsive to the data contained within the result. For example, facets can show the number of records available containing the same terms and can update their contents depending on other filtersFilters (Computer Science) Methods to reduce the number of records in a data set to help refine the result to something more useful for the user / facets that have been applied
Fields(Computer Science) The smallest container of information in a database. A field is named, e.g. “Title” or “Date” and each record contains a group of fields.
Filters(Computer Science) Methods to reduce the number of records in a data set to help refine the result to something more useful for the user
Fragments(Computer Science)
General description(API) A broad description of the object to be used across various media.
GraphiQLGraphiQL (note the “i” in the word) is an open source graphical interface used to query GraphQLGraphQL (Computer Science) GraphQL is an open-source data query and manipulation language for APIs APIs. You can use GraphiQLGraphiQL GraphiQL (note the "i" in the word) is an open source graphical interface used to query GraphQL APIs. You can use GraphiQL in our Try It Out section. in our Try It Out section.
GraphQL(Computer Science) GraphQL is an open-source data query and manipulation language for APIs
Identifier(API) A group of fields containing different unique identifiers for an object, agent, exhibitionExhibition (API) A listing of exhibitions where an object was part of the display., or other unique datatypeDatatype (Computer Science) A particular kind of data item, as defined by the values it can take, the programming language used, or the operations that can be performed on it. Predefined formats for data contained within fields, for example “number”, “string” (text) or “date”
Inscription(Museology) words inscribed on the object itself, often by the manufacturer or designer to indicate origin, materials, date, or manufacturer details
Integer(Computer Science) An integerInteger (Computer Science) An integer is a whole number (not a fraction or a decimal) that can either be possitive, negative, or zero is a whole number (not a fraction or a decimal) that can either be possitive, negative, or zero
Jargon(Museology) (Computer Science) JargonJargon (Museology) (Computer Science) Jargon is the specialized terminology commonly used with a particular field or area of activity but difficult to understand for people outside of that field or activity. is the specialized terminology commonly used with a particular field or area of activity but difficult to understand for people outside of that field or activity.
JSON(Computer Science) JSONJSON (Computer Science) JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a structured format for data that is lightweight (does not contain a lot of markup) and easy to parse. (JavaScript Object Notation) is a structured format for data that is lightweight (does not contain a lot of markup) and easy to parse.
Key-value pair(Computer Science) An item of data that is identified by the arbitrary name. The key is the name, the value is the content.
Legal(API) description of ownership, gift information, and public provenanceProvenance (Museology) A record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality..
Loan Object(Museology) Loan objects come from other museums, individual donors, collectors, or institutions, and are not part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Location(Museology) The LocationLocation (Museology) The Location is the city, country, or region where the object was created is the city, country, or region where the object was created
Maker(API) Creator of an object
Medium(Museology) Description of the material quality of the object or technical means of artistic expression, or production (such as metal, plastic, paint and canvas, sculptural stone, or code)
Multimedia(API) A section of an API record that provides access to images, video, audio or other file associated with an object.
Null(Computer Science) No value or content
Object(Museology) Artefact or specimen held in a museum collection. (Computer science) A software “bundle” consisting of a set of variables which define the states the object can exist in and a set of functions that define its behavior.
Object(Computer Science) An object is a software “bundle” consisting of a set of variables which define the states the object can exist in and a set of functions that define the behavior of that object.
Object ID(Computer Science) Collection management software used to catalogue the collection may assign their own unique identifiers in addition to the Accession Number
Objects(API) The dataset containing all objects held within the Cooper Hewitt’s online collection
Parameter(Computer Science) A synonym for Argument
Participants(Museology) See Constituent
Person(Museology) The PersonPerson (Museology) The Person Role, describes whether a constituent is a person related to an object, or an organization RoleRole (Museology) Consituent Roles can either be Person, or Organization, describes whether a constituent is a person related to an object, or an organization
Provenance(Museology) A record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.
Query(Computer Science) A query is a request for data or information from a database table or combination of tables, or an API that manages access to those tables
Record(Computer Science) A unit that groups together related items of data, for example all the fields that represent a museum collection object
Request(Computer Science) A structured instruction sent via a callCall (Computer Science) The sending of a request to an API to an API or other web service. The instruction can be simple (e.g. a web address) or complex (a search across several fields sent to an API)
Result(Computer Science) The data (in JSON format) that is returned by the API following a query. It will either contain records, or, if there is a problem with the query, an error message.
Role(Museology) Consituent Roles can either be Person, or Organization
Sorting(Computer Science) An argument of a query that determines the order of records in a result
Source(API) The origin of the data or object.
Standard Vocabulary(Museology) A Standard VocabularyStandard Vocabulary (Museology) A Standard Vocabulary is a fininte and set standard of keywords and descriptions, agreed upon by the museum to describe objects. This standard vocabulary allows for consistent data standards throughout the collection. is a fininte and set standard of keywords and descriptions, agreed upon by the museum to describe objects. This standard vocabulary allows for consistent data standards throughout the collection.
Status(API) The state of the object as it refers to its ownership of the museum. The object may be accessioned, or on loan.
String(Computer Science) A string is a sequence of characters forming words or sentences
Syntax(Computer science) The set of rules that defines the combinations of commands and symbols that are considered to be correct for a programming or query language
Tag(Museology) Tags are non-hierarchical keywords or terms assigned to Collection Objects which helps describe them and allows them to be found, processed automatically, or to create relationships between them. Tags are usually held within a finite, and Standard Vocabulary created by the Curatorial and Registrar department of the museum
Title(Museology) The name given to the design or work of art.
TMS(Museology) TMSTMS (Museology) TMS stands for "The Museum System", a collection management software to catalogue museum collections. There are many collection management systems. In this case, Cooper Hewitt uses TMS to track the collection. TMS is the source of truth about the collection, however it is not accessible to the public. Data from TMS is transfered to public servers where it becomes searchable. Because of this extraction and interpretation of data, Objects may have several IDs created in the process. stands for “The Museum SystemTMS (Museology) TMS stands for "The Museum System", a collection management software to catalogue museum collections. There are many collection management systems. In this case, Cooper Hewitt uses TMS to track the collection. TMS is the source of truth about the collection, however it is not accessible to the public. Data from TMS is transfered to public servers where it becomes searchable. Because of this extraction and interpretation of data, Objects may have several IDs created in the process.”, a collection management software to catalogue museum collections. There are many collection management systems. In this case, Cooper Hewitt uses TMS to track the collection. TMS is the source of truth about the collection, however it is not accessible to the public. Data from TMS is transfered to public servers where it becomes searchable. Because of this extraction and interpretation of data, Objects may have several IDs created in the process.
Unique Identifier(Computer Science) A Unique Identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric string that is associated with a single entity within a given system
UUID(Computer Science) A universally unique identifier (UUIDUUID (Computer Science) A universally unique identifier (UUID) is a 128-bit label used for information in computer systems. UUIDs are, for practical purposes, unique. Their uniqueness does not depend on a central registration authority or coordination between the parties generating them, unlike most other numbering schemes. While the probability that a UUID will be duplicated is not zero, it is close enough to zero to be negligible.) is a 128-bit label used for information in computer systems. UUIDs are, for practical purposes, unique. Their uniqueness does not depend on a central registration authority or coordination between the parties generating them, unlike most other numbering schemes. While the probability that a UUID will be duplicated is not zero, it is close enough to zero to be negligible.
Value(Computer Science) The representation given to the corresponding entity, often the public description of the entity.
Venue(API) The location of an exhibition.
Visualization(Computer Science) A graph, chart or other visual representation that aids the analysis or interpretation of data