Understand where information comes from.
The directory is an editorial selection; guides are practical methods to adapt to a project. These distinctions help you use the information at the right level of confidence.
Photo: Kari Shea / Unsplash · Context photograph; no affiliation with FDS is implied.
Directory inclusion and evidence
Entries distinguish providers, directories, guides and reference resources. A listing gives an identifiable source and describes its role. It does not establish membership, endorsement, certification, availability or a ranking. Some resources may belong to the same ecosystem; compare alternatives against your own brief rather than treating the order as a recommendation.
Before appointing a provider, verify its legal identity, the person carrying out the work, relevant evidence, scope, exclusions and contractual terms. Before reusing data, inspect the specific dataset’s publisher, licence, period, coverage and access requirements. A catalogue page may be public while its data requires authorisation.
What a link-check date means
A link-check date records whether an automated request could reach the published address. It is distinct from the publisher’s data-update date and from an editorial verification of every statement. A successful response can still redirect to a different topic; automated checks must therefore be interpreted with the page content.
Some publishers block automated requests. “Automated check not confirmed” means the check was inconclusive, not that the organisation has disappeared. Follow the source directly and use its own contact or documentation to resolve the question.
Reference material and practical synthesis
Guides link to primary material where a definition, technical threshold or rule requires verification. Practical worksheets add an editorial method: actions, evidence and decisions to discuss with the responsible person. They are not individual legal advice, compliance certifications or a report on your organisation.
Distinguish documented thresholds from internal objectives. A benchmark requires a stated population, period and method; a suggested target must be adapted to the service. Examples should identify their assumptions and must not be mistaken for observed market figures.
Illustrations and organisation marks
Scene-setting images illustrate a topic. They do not establish that the people shown are employees, network members or clients, or that a pictured gathering took place. Unless a specific factual caption and source are provided, read them as editorial illustrations.
A mark next to a resource identifies it visually and does not indicate a partnership. Where a usable organisation mark is unavailable, a neutral letter or symbol can be displayed. The name and destination remain the reliable identification cues.
French and English versions
The language switch links to the equivalent page when available. Titles, definitions, source links, dates and next steps should remain consistent across the pair. Language versions can differ in wording to remain clear; they should not introduce different facts or promises.
Report a correction with evidence
Send the affected page URL, the entry or statement, the suggested correction and a primary source. For an image, include the filename or page location and the issue with identity, rights or relevance. Please avoid sending passwords, access tokens or unnecessary personal data.
A useful report distinguishes a factual error from a service request. A provider’s own site is the source for its current services; an official publisher is the source for a dataset or reference framework.
Photographs and credits
These real photographs provide context for work practices. They do not depict identified FDS members or claim a French location. Responsive WebP files are hosted locally in three widths; the source, author and licence are recorded for each photograph.
- Laptop and books on a desk — Kari Shea / Unsplash
- Computer code displayed on a screen — Markus Spiske / Unsplash
- Workspace with several computer workstations — Alex Kotliarskyi / Unsplash
- Hand writing a checklist in a notebook — Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash
- Discussion around a work table with computers — Headway / Unsplash
- Workstation with a screen, computer and notebook — Grovemade / Unsplash
- Bright meeting room with a table and chairs — Aleksandrs Karevs / Unsplash
Unsplash License · Sources checked on 4 October 2026. Existing synthetic illustrations remain labelled where retained.