# REDCap
**Source**: https://act.utoronto.ca/redcap-start-up-guide/
**Parent**: https://act.utoronto.ca/redcap/
**Welcome to REDCap**
REDCap (**R**esearch **E**lectronic **D**ata **Cap**ture) is a free and secure web application that University of Toronto faculty and researchers can use to build and manage online *surveys* and *databases*. While REDCap can be used to collect virtually any type of data, it is specifically geared to support online or offline data capture for research studies and operations.
**Why REDCap?**
REDCap is a user friendly, cost-effective, and secure web application for the collection of data. It is *not* open source or freeware, and you must be eligible to gain access.
**Purpose**
This guide is intended for faculties and departments at the University of Toronto that are interested in using REDCap for research or operational purposes. Staff and researchers can find REDCap at <https://redcap.utoronto.ca>.
**REDCap Resource Webpage**
This REDCap resource webpage contains the relevant training and resources that will help you get started with the REDCap. Faculty members, staff, and students can access this webpage using the link <https://cris.utoronto.ca/redcap-resources/>
**Create a Project**
To create a REDCap Project:
1. Access REDCap at <https://redcap.utoronto.ca> and log in
2. Click the **+New Project tab** to create a new project
3. Specify the following settings for your REDCap project:
| | |
| --- | --- |
| **Settings** | **Details** |
| **Project title** | The name of your project |
| **Purpose of this project** | Select the purpose of the project. **Tip**: *To create a sample project, select Practice/ Just for fun* |
| **Start project from scratch or begin with a template** | Decide whether to use a template for your project. You can select a template from the list. |
4. Click Create Project:
The project opens, displaying the **Project Setup** tab. This tab is a checklist of steps to build and test your project, and it is the home page during project development. You can complete the steps in any order, and not all steps are required. This tab also links to instructional videos for many of the steps.
**Note:** Your project status is *Development.* This indicates that the project is being built and tested. Test your project thoroughly before proceeding.
**Project stage**
There are two REDCap project statuses:
- Development
- Production
When you begin your REDCap project, you develop, test, and revise it in *Development* status. When your REDCap project is fully developed and tested, you change your REDCap Project status from *Development* to *Production*
[Login to REDCap](https://redcap.utoronto.ca/)
## Support Contact
[redcap@utoronto.ca](mailto: redcap@utoronto.ca)
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