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Scientific Writing

How to Write a Data Availability Statement

DE By Directive Editorial Team, Directive Publications ·17 Jul 2026 ·6 min read

In short: A data availability statement tells readers whether the data behind your study are available, where to find them, and any conditions on access. It is short, now widely required, and easy to write once you know the standard forms.

Why data availability statements matter

Sharing the data behind a study supports transparency, reproducibility and reuse — cornerstones of research integrity. Our data availability policy asks for a statement in every research article, in line with the expectations of the ICMJE and good open-science practice.

What to include

  • Whether the data are available.
  • Where they are (repository name and a persistent identifier or accession number, or "in the article/supplementary files").
  • How to access them, and any conditions or restrictions.
  • If data cannot be shared, a clear reason.

The standard statement types — with examples

Openly available

The data supporting this study are openly available in [repository] at [DOI/URL], reference number [ID].

Available in the article

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary files.

Available on reasonable request

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Restricted for a stated reason

The data are not publicly available because they contain information that could compromise participant privacy/consent. De-identified data may be available from the corresponding author, subject to ethical approval.

No new data

No new data were created or analysed in this study; data sharing is not applicable.

Good practice

  • Deposit data in a recognised repository that issues a DOI so the dataset can be cited.
  • Follow the FAIR principles — Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable.
  • Where relevant, share code and materials too, and cite the dataset in your reference list.
  • Be honest about legitimate limits (privacy, consent, legal or commercial constraints).

Key takeaways

  • State whether, where and how your data can be accessed.
  • Use a recognised repository with a persistent identifier where possible.
  • If data cannot be shared, say so and explain why.
  • Follow the FAIR principles and cite your dataset.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a data availability statement?
A data availability statement is a short section in a research article that tells readers whether the underlying data are available, where to find them, and any conditions on access. Many journals now require one.
What if I cannot share my data?
You can still publish, but you must say so and explain why — for example participant privacy, consent limits, or legal restrictions. Transparency about why data cannot be shared is what matters.
Where should I deposit my data?
Use a recognised, trusted repository appropriate to your field, ideally one that issues a persistent identifier such as a DOI for the dataset so it can be cited and found.
Do I need to share data even for a review article?
A statement is mainly expected for articles that generate or analyse primary data. For a review, you can state that no new data were created or analysed.
What are the FAIR principles?
FAIR stands for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable — a set of principles for good data management that helps others discover and reuse research data.
DE
Directive Editorial Team
Directive Publications

The editorial team at Directive Publications — an international open-access publisher of peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals.

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