---
title: "Reference Data Overview"
slug: "reference-data-overview"
updated: 2026-09-09T13:59:10Z
published: 2026-09-09T13:59:10Z
canonical: "docs.discngine.com/reference-data-overview"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.discngine.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reference Data Overview

The Reference Data application manages controlled vocabularies and shared laboratory data. While it does not offer the full capabilities of advanced ontology management systems (e.g., [CENtree](https://scibite.com/platform/centree-ontology-management-platform/)), it is sufficient for most use cases.

In Reference Data, an administrator can define custom vocabularies, arrange vocabulary items in a hierarchy, and tag them with additional properties to facilitate searching.

Reference Data also centralizes shared data for use by other applications, such as labware items and locations.

## Reference Data Concepts

### Vocabulary

A **[controlled vocabulary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_vocabulary)** is a list of terms describing a specific domain of knowledge. Only one term is used to describe a particular concept, excluding synonyms. Each term should have a definition and, in public vocabularies, a unique identifier for referencing.

In the Reference Data, vocabulary items can be arranged in a hierarchy, similar to [taxonomies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy). Unlike [ontologies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(computer_science)), there are no item-to-item relationships. For simplicity, the term `controlled vocabulary` is used throughout this documentation.

### Annotation

An **annotation** is an attribute that can be added, deleted, or modified for an object to enrich analysis results.

An object is the target of an annotation and can be:

- A plate, well, or vial in `Sample`
- A plate, well, or any data in `Assay`
- An attribute of an assay in `Catalog`

The list of available objects is defined by the Assay Team and updated with new releases. Each object can have several linked annotations.

Each annotation has a type: Text, Number, or Vocabulary (from Reference Data).

### Labware Items

Labware items are the physical objects used in the laboratory, such as plates, racks, and vials.

### Sites

Sites are the locations where you work or store materials. They can represent a country, building, laboratory, freezer, etc. For example, sites are used to define the locations of labware items and other laboratory objects.