# digitalSourceType

`digitalSourceType` is a controlled vocabulary that indicates from which source a digital media was created. The vocabulary is maintained by the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC), a non-profit organization that develops and maintains standards for the exchange of news and multimedia content.&#x20;

The `digitalSourceType` in AssetTree is defined the same way as in the C2PA spec whose value shall be one of the [terms defined by the IPTC](https://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/) or a [C2PA specific](https://c2pa.org/specifications/specifications/1.3/specs/C2PA_Specification.html) value. Some useful guidlines to choose the digitalSourceType:

* For AI-generated images or videos, the value should be `trainedAlgorithmicMedia`.&#x20;
* If the content is generated by AI but the format is not digital media, use `trainedAlgorithmicData`
* `digitalCapture` should be used for original digital capture sampled from real life.
* `digitalArt` can be used for media created by a human using digital tools.
* If the media file was created purely by an algorithm NOT based on any sampled training data, e.g. an image created by software using a mathematical formula, use `algorithmicMedia`
* For content which does not have a clear source type, the field should be empty or use `digitalUpload. digitalUpload` means the content file was uploaded without specifying any reliable `digitalSourceType.`
