The preservation of digital objects involves crucial decisions regarding the most suitable file formats to be employed. The options are several and the selection is not always easy.
This website lists 7 important factors (disclosure, adoption, transparency, self-documentation, external dependencies, impact of patents, technical protection mechanisms) to be considered that apply across digital formats and influence the feasibility and cost of data preservation, considering future changes in the technological environment. These factors are useful under different preservation strategies, whether it is migration to new formats, emulation of current software on future computers or a hybrid approach.