Behind every good research there are data. What are they and their importance to forensic science.

Data underpinning science have become one of the most precious assets in research, and while the principles of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) have been put forward as a guide to how to approach data handling, data sharing and long-term storage still remain a challenge for many research areas including forensic science. The reporting and the sharing of data can be made easier by giving them structure, the use of suitable labels and the inclusion of descriptors collated into metadata prior to their deposition in repositories with persistent identifiers. Such a systematic approach would strengthen the quality and the integrity of research while providing greater transparency to published materials.