# Check Downloads and Links

This FGDC conformance check verifies that datasets are downloadable and contact links and anchor links resolve.

## Download Data links

For download links where possible the conformance check performs an HTTP HEAD request to test the availability of downloadable data without downloading the data. If it’s not possible to do an [HTTP HEAD](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/HEAD) request the conformance check performs an [HTTP GET](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods/GET) request to download the data. If the HEAD or GET request succeeds the check passes.

### ISO 19115

*//gmd:transferOptions/gmd:MD_DigitalTransferOptions/gmd:onLine/gmd:CI_OnlineResource/gmd:linkage/gmd:URL/text()*

### ISO 19115-3
*//cit:CI_Citation/cit:onlineResource/cit:CI_OnlineResource/cit:linkage/gco:CharacterString/text()*

### Contacts and Anchors

For contacts and anchors, the conformance check performs an HTTP GET to download the data. If the GET request succeeds the check passes.

### ISO 19115

*//gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:contactInfo/gmd:CI_Contact/gmd:onlineResource/gmd:CI_OnlineResource/gmd:linkage/gmd:URL/text()*

### ISO 19115-3
*//mrd:distributorTransferOptions/mrd:MD_DigitalTransferOptions/mrd:onLine/cit:CI_OnlineResource/cit:linkage/gco:CharacterString/text()*

### More Information

[FGDC Technical Guidance: Data.gov and The GeoPlatform Metadata Recommendations](https://www.fgdc.gov/technical-guidance/metadata/fgdc-technical-guidance-datagov-geoplatform-ngda.pdf)