What's in a name: the release of Metadata Schema 4.4

March 31, 2021 by Madeleine de Smaele and Isabel Bernal Many things have happened since the DataCite Metadata Working Group last released a new version of its schema in the summer of 2019. Indeed, amongst a long list of transformations brought about by the ongoing global pandemic, the paramount importance of accessing research data has been made clear to all as a requirement to accelerate trustworthy and evidenced-based science. In this context, the great importance of fully describing scientific outputs is never sufficiently emphasized and here is where metadata comes into play as key conduit to discovery, access, interoperability and reuse. For the last year and a half, and in close cooperation with DataCite staff, we have been working intensively on finalizing version 4.4 of the schema, which brings a host of significant additions. As always, input and suggestions by the community have been addressed to the best possible extent.