This part of ISO 19115 defines the schema required for describing geographic information and services by means of metadata. It provides information about the identification@ the extent@ the quality@ the spatial and temporal aspects@ the content@ the spatial reference@ the portrayal@ distribution@ and other properties of digital geographic data and services. This part of ISO 19115 is applicable to: ?? the cataloguing of all types of resources@ clearinghouse activities@ and the full description of datasets and services; ?? geographic services@ geographic datasets@ dataset series@ and individual geographic features and feature properties. This part of ISO 19115 defines: ?? mandatory and conditional metadata sections@ metadata entities@ and metadata elements; ?? the minimum set of metadata required to serve most metadata applications (data discovery@ determining data fitness for use@ data access@ data transfer@ and use of digital data and services); ?? optional metadata elements to allow for a more extensive standard description of resources@ if required; ?? a method for extending metadata to fit specialized needs. Though this part of ISO 19115 is applicable to digital data and services@ its principles can be extended to many other types of resources such as maps@ charts@ and textual documents as well as non?geographic data. Certain conditional metadata elements might not apply to these other forms of data.