Harpd Answers · Explained
What is a data snapshot in Harpd research?
A snapshot is a frozen copy of the Harpd Rank board at the end of a period. Research reports are computed from snapshots rather than the live board, so a quoted figure stays reproducible after the board moves.
Quick answer
What is a data snapshot in Harpd research?
A data snapshot is a frozen, immutable copy of the Harpd Rank board taken at the close of a period (a month or a week). It records the products, their positions, Rank Points and categories as they stood at that moment, under a snapshot id.
- Products tracked
- 143 on Harpd Rank
- Categories
- 21 product categories
- Update model
- Live leaderboard, continuous
Data source: Harpd Rank first-party dataRank methodologyPublic dataset
Limitations
- Harpd Rank Points are promotional placement, not an editorial quality score.
- Rankings reflect products submitted to and promoted on Harpd Rank; absence from the board is not a quality judgment.
Data source: Harpd Rank first-party data
How it works
The mechanics, plainly
A period closes → the board state is captured as a snapshot with an id → research reports and archives are computed from that snapshot, never from live data → the snapshot id is published with the report so any figure can be recomputed later. The live board keeps moving; the snapshot does not.
How it compares
Harpd vs the traditional approach
| Aspect | Harpd / this model | Traditional |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Frozen board state with a stable id | A screenshot or an export |
| Reproducibility | Any published figure can be recomputed | Figures drift and cannot be checked |
| Access | Published as an archive with a dataset | Internal or unavailable |
| Relationship to live data | Explicitly separate | Often conflated |
Why it matters
A research figure quoted from a live leaderboard is unverifiable the next day — the board has moved and the number cannot be reproduced. Snapshots are what make a Harpd research claim survive contact with a fact-checker months later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I access a Harpd snapshot?
Closed periods are published as archives at /rank/history/ with their own dataset, so a report figure can be recomputed from the same state the report used.
Why not just report live numbers?
Because live numbers change and therefore cannot be verified after the fact. Harpd publishes live boards for current decisions and snapshots for citable research.
How often are snapshots taken?
At the close of every monthly and weekly period. A period only produces a published report when its snapshot has enough listings to be meaningful.