The AGLS Metadata Standard is an Australian Standard for cross-domain resource description. A resource is defined as anything that has identity; this is the definition used in Internet RFC 2396, ‘Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI): Generic Syntax' by Tim Berners- Lee et al.

This Standard is for use by any organization or individual creating or managing information sources or services that are locatable via the Internet. In particular, it is intended for information about resources and services on the World Wide Web. For the purposes of AGLS metadata, a resource will typically be an online information or service resource, but can be applied more broadly to people and organizations, and information or services that are not available online.

This Standard describes the AGLS properties. It is not the purpose of this Standard to define the detailed criteria by which the properties will be implemented in specific projects and applications by individuals and organizations.

This Part 1 of AS 5044 contains the formal definition of the AGLS Metadata Standard. It is not intended to be used on its own and should be applied in conjunction with AS 5044.2, which interprets and explains how to use AGLS metadata properties to describe resources at an abstract level to make them easier to locate. Part Two also gives advice on how to implement AS 5044.