C: Title

Definition: A name given to the resource.

Obligation: Mandatory.

What is this element?

Title is the name by which the resource is formally known.

If the service or resource is commonly known by another name, you can repeat the element and use the "alternative" refinement.

Append a version statement at the end of the title if this information is likely to be useful. Use the Relation element to reference other versions if required.

People search using titles and keywords from titles. If you can ensure these are spelt correctly then searches are more likely to be successful.

Choosing titles

It is often difficult to decide the correct title for a resource. Creation of ad hoc titles for resources is not recommended, but if there is no evident attached title then:

• Use the official name, if one exists, or the most appropriate title, using the name which it is most commonly known by, and by which it is most likely to be searched.
• For a service, use its full explanatory name, preferably in the format: verb-article or pronoun-noun.
• For web pages:
  • Do not use the file name of the resource.
  • Use the content of the HTML <title> tag (if provided) as long as it clearly describes the resource.
  • If there is no HTML <Title> tag, there may be a prominent textual (i.e. non-graphic) heading displaying at the beginning of the page contents, use this textual heading as the title.
  • If there is no prominent text heading at the beginning of the Web page contents, but the page contains a title graphic, use the text provided by the graphic as the resource title.
  • If the HTML <title> tag, textual heading or title graphic, do not provide enough information to uniquely identify the resource then, following a hyphen, add to the title to provide context.
• If the resource is an email, use the subject line as the title. Add an Alternative title if the subject line is of limited value.
• If the resource is an electronic 'folder' containing electronic documents, use the usual folder name as the resource title.
• Spelling, grammar and capitalisation should be correct. For example, start every service with a capital letter and only use capitalisation within the service name for proper nouns, (New Zealand), or names of programs/allowances etc, (Sickness Benefit).
• Enter abbreviations or acronyms as they appear but also, in square brackets at the end of the title, add the full value of the abbreviation or acronym. This allows for searchers who might use either value.
• If there is a mis-spelling in the title of the resource then enter the title with the mis-spelling and place the correct spelling in square brackets at the end of the title.
• No full stops at the end of a title.
• The title will normally be in the same language(s) as the resource.
• Think how it will be understood when it appears in a list. It may be useful to add values such as version number, status (e.g. 'draft', 'draft for consultation') or date if the item is one of many with the same title, so that when they all appear in a list it is easy to find the right one.
• Ensure that the title is accurate, and the meaning is clear.
• Be customer-focused: make it brief and meaningful rather than clever and catchy.
• Double-check your spelling. Search tools either match exactly, or offer to correct the spelling of searches. If you have mis-spelt the Title the resource is far less likely to be found.

Repetition

Repeat Title for titles that are of equal weight.

Qualifiers

Refinements

alternative - Any form of the title used as a substitute or alternative to the formal title of the resource. This refinement could include abbreviations, translations and acronyms by which a resource may be known. It should be used where the resource is also known under a different title, or has recently changed and is still known by its previous title.

If a resource is commonly known officially or internally by a name which members of the public would find incomprehensible, it is recommended that an additional, meaningful name be given to it. For example, the official service name might be "Get the Unemployment Benefit", but an alternative name might be "Get the Dole".

Examples