What does the term "digital preservation" encompass?

The term "digital preservation" specifically refers to the activities, strategies, and measures taken to ensure that digital materials remain accessible and usable over time. This involves not only maintaining the integrity of digital files but also managing them in a way that allows for continued access despite changing technology and formats. Digital preservation includes actions like regular file format migrations, creating metadata for better data management, implementing storage solutions that consider the potential obsolescence of physical media, and developing policies that support long-term digital stewardship.

While other choices touch on related concepts, they do not completely encapsulate the breadth of what digital preservation entails. For instance, eliminating obsolete formats is a component of digital preservation but does not represent its entirety. Sharing digital materials on social media is a method of distribution rather than preservation. Creating backups is important for data security but does not address the ongoing management and accessibility aspect crucial to digital preservation. Thus, the focus on maintaining access to digital materials over time is what makes this choice the most comprehensive and accurate description of digital preservation.