How to Search and Browse Datasets on Data.gov

Data.gov is the U.S. government's open data site, and you can search or browse its catalog of 570,120 datasets in several ways: use the search box for keyword queries, or start from curated entry points like Most Viewed Datasets, Recently Added Datasets, Datasets by Organization, Geospatial, and Code Repository. The site is built for research, application development, data visualization, and general public exploration, so the right entry point depends on whether you already know what you're looking for.

Search with the search box

If you have a topic in mind, the search box is the fastest route.

1. Enter a keyword or phrase describing the data you need (for example, a subject, agency program, or geographic area).
2. Submit the search to get a result list drawn from the catalog.
3. Open a result to view the dataset's detail page, where you can review its description and access download options.

The expected result is a filtered list of datasets matching your terms, which you then narrow by opening individual records. A common snag: broad terms return large result sets, so add specificity (a place name, a time period, or an agency) when the first pass is too wide.

Browse curated entry points

If you don't have a specific keyword, browsing is more useful. The homepage surfaces several starting points:

Each entry leads into the catalog, where you continue to dataset detail pages and their download options.

Choose the right resource type

Data.gov hosts more than one kind of resource, and picking the correct category saves time:

• Datasets — the main catalog of 570,120 datasets, searchable and browsable as described above.
• Geospatial — a dedicated path when your work involves location or mapping.
• Code Repository — federal source code repositories. Under the SHARE IT Act (Public Law 118-187), agencies must maintain source code repositories and make them publicly discoverable through Data.gov, so this section lets you explore agency repositories, track compliance status, and find open source projects.

If your goal is analysis or visualization, start with datasets or geospatial. If you need the software behind a tool, use the code repository section instead.

Check catalog metrics before you commit

Data.gov publishes breakdowns of the type, age, and distribution of catalog.data.gov datasets, with a last-updated timestamp. For top dataset page views, file downloads, and external link clicks by agency, the site points to data.gov/metrics. Reviewing these metrics helps you judge how active or well-used a dataset or agency is before building on it.

Verify your result

Once you reach a dataset detail page, confirm it fits your need by checking the description and then using the available download options. If a dataset seems outdated or incomplete, cross-check the metrics section or try the Datasets by Organization entry to see whether the publishing agency offers a better-maintained alternative.