Open data refers to municipal information made freely available online for anyone to access, use, and share. Open data initiatives publish datasets on topics like transit schedules, crime statistics, building permits, property assessments, and council voting records. Making data available in machine-readable formats enables developers to create applications, researchers to analyze trends, journalists to investigate issues, and residents to understand their communities. Open data promotes transparency, enables innovation, and can improve service delivery. Municipalities must balance openness with privacy concerns, ensuring personal information is protected while maximizing public data availability. Many Canadian municipalities have established open data portals.