TEI Header
From XML
The <teiHeader> is a required component of the transcription file and contains metadata about the digital edition. It generally consists of the following elements:
- The <fileDesc>: the only mandatory component. It contains a bibliographic description of the digital edition;
- The <encodingDesc>, which describes the relation between the digital edition and its (material) source;
- The <profileDesc> containing classifying and contextual information about the text.
The <fileDesc> itself consists of three mandatory parts as well:
- A <titleStmt> with information about the <title>, <author> and/or <editor> of the text;
- A <publicationStmt> containing information about publication details;
- A <sourceDesc> with bibliographical details about the material source.
The smallest possible valid TEI Header looks like this:
<teiHeader> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title> <!-- title of the resource --> </title> </titleStmt> <publicationStmt> <p> <!-- Information about distribution of the resource --> </p> </publicationStmt> <sourceDesc> <p> <!-- Information about source from which the resource derives --> </p> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> </teiHeader>
Not every source of text requires the same type of information within the metadata, so the way in which the <teiHeader> is shaped depends on the type of source. It is therefore advisable to take a look at the Wiki page about the TEI Header of the relevant project.