DSpace repository software serves a specific need as a digital archives system, focused on the long-term storage, access and preservation of digital content.
DSpace is constructed with Java web applications, many programs and an associated metadata store. The web applications provide interfaces for administration, deposit, ingest, search, and access. The asset store is maintained on a file system or similar storage system. The metadata, including access and configuration information, is stored in a relational database and supports the use of PostgreSQL and Oracle database. DSpace holdings are made available primarily via a web interface. More recent versions of DSpace also support faceted search and browse functionality using Apache Solr.
DSpace is an open source software platform that enables organisations to:
- Capture and describe digital material using a submission workflow module, or a variety of programmatic ingest options
- Distribute an organisation’s digital assets over the web through a search and retrieval system
- Preserve digital assets over the long term
Key Features of DSpace
- Open source software
- Completely customizable to fit user needs
- Manage and preserve all format of digital content (PDF, Word, JPEG, MPEG, TIFF files)
- Apache SOLR based search
- Granular group based access control