# Dataspaces

There could be many definitions for a dataspace. A more academic definition would be:

Dataspace is a joint effort that consists of loosely coupled, independent actors with equal rights that act as data producers, data stewards and data consumers in a business-to-business fashion.

A simpler definition is also described in our [FAQ page](https://trustrelay.io/faq): "Dataspaces are an abstraction of a group of companies and people sharing data for a common purpose". 

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This is not to be confused with data warehouses or data lakes, as dataspaces are not "housing data" instead they just represent a virtual space to add members and peers.
{% endhint %}

A dataspace may be useful when the needs of the organization to share data **crosses the organizational walls**. It doesn't mean that you cannot invite your colleagues, but if all members of the dataspace belong to the same company, then a centralized solution is not a political obstacle.

Within a dataspace other elements are enabled, such as service connections, commons and agreement templates.

Each user within a dataspace exists in the context of a corresponding organization (organizational unit).