# Symbiota

> open-source biodiversity data management software

**Wikidata**: [Q113639939](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113639939)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/symbiota

## Summary
Symbiota is an open-source software framework designed for biodiversity data management. It provides libre access to its original source code under a permissive license, allowing users to manage and distribute biological data effectively.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Symbiota is categorized as a software framework, open-source software, and data management software.
- **Primary Function:** It serves as a platform for managing biodiversity data.
- **License Type:** The software is open-source, permitting users to freely use and redistribute it in its current state.
- **Website:** The official website is located at https://symbiota.org/ (English).
- **Known Association:** The software is associated with vPlants, an online resource for plants of the Chicago Region launched in 2001.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Symbiota used for?
A: Symbiota is used for biodiversity data management. It functions as a software framework to help organize and provide access to biological data.

### Q: Is Symbiota free to use?
A: Yes, Symbiota is open-source software. This means it has a permissive license that grants libre access to the original source code, allowing anyone to freely use and redistribute it.

### Q: What is the relationship between Symbiota and vPlants?
A: According to structured data, vPlants is a related entity or resource that runs on or requires Symbiota. vPlants is an online resource for plants of the Chicago Region that was established in 2001.

## Why It Matters
Symbiota plays a critical role in the field of biodiversity informatics by lowering the barrier to entry for data management. As an open-source framework, it solves the problem of accessibility and cost often associated with proprietary scientific database software. By offering libre access to its source code, it allows institutions and researchers to freely use and redistribute the platform, fostering a collaborative environment for managing biological records.

The software's significance is demonstrated through its application in projects like vPlants, an online resource for the Chicago Region active since 2001. This association highlights Symbiota's utility in creating long-term, stable platforms for specimen data, species descriptions, and image galleries. It bridges the gap between complex data infrastructure and the need for open, shareable scientific resources.

## Notable For
- **Open-Source Accessibility:** Unlike proprietary data systems, Symbiota provides permissive licensing and libre access to source code.
- **Biodiversity Specialization:** It is distinctively tailored as a framework for biodiversity data management rather than general-purpose data.
- **Long-Term Utility:** Its framework supports long-standing resources such as vPlants, which has been operational since 2001.
- **Framework Capabilities:** It is not just a single application but a software framework capable of supporting various distinct data portals.

## Body

### Software Classification and Function
Symbiota is explicitly defined as a software framework, placing it in the category of open-source software and data management software. Its primary purpose is the management of biodiversity data.

### Technical Definition and Licensing
As an open-source platform, Symbiota operates under a permissive license. This classification ensures that the software is free for anyone to use and redistribute in its current state. While the definition emphasizes libre access to the original source code, the specific permissions regarding modification are subject to the terms of the license provided.

### Associated Platforms
The functionality of Symbiota is illustrated by its relationship with **vPlants**.
- **Description:** vPlants is an online resource dedicated to the plants of the Chicago Region.
- **Features:** It offers specimen data, images, species descriptions, distribution maps by county, and photo galleries.
- **History:** The resource was established with an inception date of 2001.
- **Relationship:** vPlants is listed as a "Thing" that runs on or requires the Symbiota framework.

### Official Resources
The primary hub for the software is the official website, hosted at https://symbiota.org/, which is presented in English.