# Introduction

HTAN Data includes both assay files and metadata. All HTAN metadata are open access data whereas assay files may be either access-controlled or open access.

The HTAN Data Portal provides an overview of all released data and serves as an interface through which all data access can occur. While most data storage and direct data access occurs via Synapse (open access data) and CDS (access-controlled data), HTAN supports many other mechanisms of data access and visualization. These include: