> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.geosamples.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.geosamples.org/readme.md).

# Welcome to SESAR documentation

Documentation for registering, managing, and finding samples with SESAR.

SESAR is a community platform for managing and archiving metadata about scientific material samples, and for finding information about samples around the world.

This site contains documentation and guidelines describing: how to register samples, what every metadata field means, which terms are allowed in which field, and how to do all of it programmatically. 

**This site is under construction as we improve and expand our guides and documentation.** Please check back regularly or contact us with suggestions and questions by emailing us at <info@geosamples.org>.&#x20;

For who we are, how we're funded, and what we're for, see [geosamples.org](https://www.geosamples.org).

### New here?

[**Register your first sample**](/register-your-first-sample.md) — the ten-minute version, start to finish.

Play around and practice registering test samples using our [sandbox](/for-researchers/accounts-and-access/test-site-for-sesar.md).&#x20;

### Know what you need?

| Section                                                             | What's in it                                         |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| [**User Guide**](https://docs.geosamples.org/for-researchers/)      | Register, manage, and cite your samples.             |
| [**Metadata Schema**](https://docs.geosamples.org/metadata-schema/) | Every field, what it means, what's required.         |
| [**Vocabularies**](https://docs.geosamples.org/vocabularies/)       | Controlled term lists, and how to request additions. |
| [**API**](https://docs.geosamples.org/api/)                         | Register and retrieve metadata programmatically.     |

### Not sure?

[**Find your path** ](/find-your-path.md)sorts you by what you're trying to do.


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