# DraCor

> database of TEI-encoded plays in (mostly) European languages

**Wikidata**: [Q122408266](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122408266)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DraCor)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dracor

## Summary
DraCor is a free, open-access database of TEI-encoded dramatic texts, primarily in European languages. It provides researchers and developers with structured data and tools for computational analysis of theatrical works. The project was initiated in 2017 and includes specialized corpora such as the DraCor Einakter collection.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 2017 by Carsten Milling.
- Contains TEI/XML-encoded plays, mainly from Europe.
- Hosted at https://dracor.org/ with a multilingual interface.
- Operates under the Creative Commons CC0 License (public domain dedication).
- Uses technologies including TEI/XML, eXist, and GitHub-hosted repositories.
- Includes derivative projects like DraCor Einakter (launched in 2020), focusing on German one-act plays from 1740–1850.
- Latest stable API version is 0.80.0, released on July 1, 2021.
- Listed in the Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace.
- Instance of: website, database, software, and free software.

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of content does DraCor provide?
A: DraCor offers a digital collection of dramatic texts encoded using the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) standard. These texts are primarily in European languages and support scholarly research and computational text analysis.

### Q: Is DraCor free to use?
A: Yes, DraCor is distributed as free software and operates under the Creative Commons CC0 License, meaning it is dedicated to the public domain and can be used without restrictions.

### Q: Who developed DraCor?
A: DraCor was created by Carsten Milling and is maintained as part of the open-source community through platforms like GitHub.

## Why It Matters
DraCor addresses a critical need in digital humanities for standardized, machine-readable versions of literary texts—specifically drama. By encoding plays in TEI/XML format, it enables advanced computational methods such as network analysis, stylometry, and visualization, which were previously difficult or impossible with unstructured textual data. Its modular architecture supports integration into larger research infrastructures and facilitates cross-disciplinary collaboration between scholars and developers. As part of the broader movement toward open science, DraCor contributes both data and methodology to the global effort to make cultural heritage digitally accessible and analytically useful.

## Notable For
- Being among the first large-scale, TEI-based databases focused exclusively on dramatic literature.
- Providing full public access via an open license (CC0) and open-source code repositories.
- Supporting multilingual interfaces and diverse European-language corpora within a single platform.
- Hosting specialized sub-corpora such as DraCor Einakter, enabling targeted historical and linguistic studies.
- Integration into international research initiatives like the Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace.

## Body
### Overview
DraCor (short for Drama Corpora Project) is a digital initiative providing structured access to dramatic texts. Designed for use in computational research, it serves as both a repository and analytical toolset for scholars working in literary studies, linguistics, and digital humanities.

### Technical Details
The core infrastructure of DraCor relies on several key technologies:
- **Encoding Standard**: All texts follow the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) guidelines.
- **Storage & Query Engine**: Utilizes the eXist XML database system.
- **API Versions**: Multiple releases have been published since inception; notable recent versions include:
  - v0.72.0 – Released September 10, 2020
  - v0.75.0 – December 5, 2020
  - v0.78.0 – July 1, 2021
  - v0.80.0 – July 1, 2021
- **Source Code Repositories**:
  - Backend/API: [GitHub](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api)
  - Frontend: [GitHub](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-frontend)

### Subprojects and Extensions
One major extension is **DraCor Einakter**, launched in 2020, which focuses specifically on German-language one-act plays from 1740 to 1850. This subset allows more granular historical and genre-specific investigations.

### Licensing and Accessibility
All materials hosted by DraCor are made available under the **Creative Commons CC0 License**, effectively placing them in the public domain. This ensures maximum reuse potential for educational and commercial applications alike.

### Institutional Recognition
DraCor has been recognized by academic and cultural institutions:
- Featured in the **Social Sciences and Humanities Open Marketplace**
- Indexed across Wikipedia editions in English, Russian, and Persian
- Included in Wikimedia’s focus lists for Cultural Heritage and GLAM catalogues

### Development and Maintenance
Development activity occurs openly on GitHub, allowing contributions from the wider community. Releases are tagged and documented, ensuring transparency and reproducibility. The current maintainer is Carsten Milling, who also founded the project in 2017.

## References

1. [Source](https://marketplace.sshopencloud.eu/tool-or-service/GhmeS4)
2. [Release 0.72.0. 2020](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.72.0)
3. [Release 0.72.1. 2020](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.72.1)
4. [Release 0.73.0. 2020](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.73.0)
5. [Release 0.74.0. 2020](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.74.0)
6. [Release 0.75.0. 2020](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.75.0)
7. [Release 0.76.0. 2020](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.76.0)
8. [Release 0.77.0. 2021](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.77.0)
9. [Release 0.77.1. 2021](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.77.1)
10. [Release 0.78.0. 2021](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.78.0)
11. [Release 0.80.0. 2021](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.80.0)
12. [Release 0.81.0. 2021](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.81.0)
13. [Release 0.82.0. 2021](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.82.0)
14. [Release 0.82.1. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.82.1)
15. [Release 0.83.1. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.83.1)
16. [Release 0.84.0. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.84.0)
17. [Release 0.85.0. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.85.0)
18. [Release 0.86.0. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.86.0)
19. [Release 0.87.0. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.87.0)
20. [Release 0.87.1. 2022](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.87.1)
21. [Release 0.88.0. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.88.0)
22. [Release 0.89.0. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.89.0)
23. [Release 0.90.1. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.90.1)
24. [Release 0.91.0. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.91.0)
25. [Release 0.91.1. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.91.1)
26. [Release 0.91.3. 2024](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v0.91.3)
27. [Release 1.0.0. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.0.0)
28. [Release 1.0.1. 2023](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.0.1)
29. [Release 1.0.2. 2024](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.0.2)
30. [Release 1.1.0. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
31. [Release 1.1.1. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.1.1)
32. [Release 1.1.2. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.1.2)
33. [Release 1.1.3. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.1.3)
34. [Release 1.1.4. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/v1.1.4)
35. [Release 1.1.5. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/1.1.5)
36. [Release 1.1.6. 2025](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/1.1.6)
37. [Release 1.2.0. 2026](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/1.2.0)
38. [Release 1.2.1. 2026](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/1.2.1)
39. [Release 1.2.2. 2026](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/1.2.2)
40. [Release 1.2.3. 2026](https://github.com/dracor-org/dracor-api/releases/tag/1.2.3)
41. [Source](https://x.com/hashtag/DraCor?src=hashtag_click)