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

# Data overview

Data Space is where Unitlab keeps durable source resources independent from any one project. It supports ingestion, folders, lifecycle state, metadata, tags, grouping, filters, embeddings, similarity, duplicates, and outlier analysis.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Use this area when:** you need to bring data into Unitlab, organize it, understand its distribution, or prepare an exact cohort for a dataset.
{% endhint %}

### How this area fits into production

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  A["Upload or cloud"]
  B["Process"]
  C["Folders + Assets"]
  D["Curate + group"]
  E["Dataset membership"]
  A --> B
  B --> C
  C --> D
  D --> E
```

![Unitlab Data Space Asset library](https://292810646-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FGjVLUz4wthGkGlRKM6rM%2Fuploads%2FnjhYnLvSAjgnkvCf8QE9%2Fassets-library.png?alt=media\&token=e0b7397b-0f96-479d-8344-bf8a5f37d02b)

*The Asset library separates folders from individual assets and supports list, grid, and embedding views for different operational questions.*

### What this area controls

### Start with the right page

| Decision                   | Production guidance                                         |
| -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Bring in new data          | Use Data upload or Cloud providers.                         |
| Organize durable resources | Use Data folders and Data assets.                           |
| Prepare a cohort           | Use Data curation, metadata, tags, filters, and embeddings. |
| Preserve context           | Use Data Groups and custom layouts.                         |

### Operating boundary

* Data lifecycle state is not project workflow state.
* A saved filter is personal navigation state, not immutable dataset membership.
* Grouping changes the unit of work; validate it before project attachment.

### A production-ready handoff

The selected source cohort is processed, inspected, explainable, and ready to become a published dataset version.