# Module Documentation: eml-protocol | Back to EML Contents

### The eml-protocol module - Research protocol specific information

The EML Protocol Module is used to define abstract, prescriptive procedures for generating or processing data. Conceptually, a protocol is a standardized method.

Eml-protocol resembles eml-methods; however, eml-methods is descriptive (often written in the declarative mood: "I took five subsamples...") whereas eml-protocol is prescriptive (often written in the imperative mood: "Take five subsamples..."). A protocol may have versions, whereas methods (as used in eml-methods) should not.

## Module details

Recommended Usage: | Use eml-protocol to describe prescriptive procedures that can be associated with other descriptive or prescriptive procedures.
Stand-alone: | yes
Imports: | eml-resource, eml-methods, eml-documentation, eml-access
Imported By: |
View an image of the schema: | eml-protocol image

## Element Definitions:
#### proceduralStep | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: md:ProcedureStepType
#### protocol | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: ProtocolType
| The protocol field provides a container for other related fields, such as proceduralStep and ResourceGroup.
## Attribute Definitions:
#### id
Type: res:IDType Use: optional
#### system
Type: res:SystemType Use: optional
#### scope
Type: res:ScopeType Use: optional Default value: document
## Complex Type Definitions:
#### ProtocolType |
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Elements: | Use: | How many:
A choice of (
A sequence of (
res:ResourceGroup |  |
proceduralStep | optional | unbounded
)
OR
res:ReferencesGroup |  |
)
Attributes: | Use: | Default Value:
id | optional
system | optional
scope | optional | document
| The ProtocolType container defines a number of reusable fields that can be referenced from multiple EML modules. It represents well-defined, prescriptive procedures that can be used to document other prescriptive procedures or descriptive procedures such as methods.
## Group Definitions:

Web Contact: jones@nceas.ucsb.edu