DigComp 3.0 is the fifth edition of the European Digital Competence Framework. It describes knowledge, skills and attitudes that are needed to be digitally competent for daily life, participation in society, working and learning, and can be used with both children and adults. The framework is technology-neutral and is designed to be tailored and adapted for a variety of purposes in education, training and employment contexts. DigComp is intended for individuals and organisations, whether local, regional, national, European or international, which share the common goal of understanding and identifying digital competence needs and supporting their development. It supports EU policies and initiatives on digital skills (such as the Union of Skills, where DigComp is explicitly mentioned, and the Digital Decade Policy Programme) and the societal and economic implications of the digital transformation (such as the AI Continent Action Plan and the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Kids). DigComp 3.0 incorporates digital technological developments, trends and practices that have occurred since 2022, and which have wide-ranging implications for digital competence. It also includes a new section outlining learning outcomes which provides a more granular view of digital competence that allows easy and consistent interpretation and application of the framework, as well as the systematic and transversal integration of AI competence across the framework.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, digital skills are essential. The European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) describes what is needed to be digitally competent in today’s society. This update of the framework responds to digital technological developments, trends and practices, and supports several EU policy initiatives on digital skills. As a generic transversal framework, it is non-prescriptive and acts as a starting point from which to develop, update, or evaluate initiatives that support the development of digital competence.
In Europe, there is a clear need to prioritise digital competence. In 2023, only 56% of EU adults had at least basic digital skills, falling short of the 80% target set for 2030. Among secondary school students in the same year, 43% lacked basic digital skills. Over nine in ten (92%) workers in the EU used digital technologies in their work in 2024-2025 and 30% of EU workers used AI systems in work in the same year. In 2024, 42% of EU workers reported an AI skills gap, yet only 15% had participated in AI skills training.
DigComp promotes a shared and common understanding of digital competence – knowledge, skills and attitudes for the confident, critical and responsible use of, and engagement with, digital technologies for learning, at work, and for participation in society. It is used by a large majority of EU Member States and beyond, as well as at European and international levels, to inform policymaking; develop assessments; enhance transparency or comparability of education and training courses; recognise or validate learning (such as through digital skills certification); and define profiles of digital competence in specific jobs or roles.
The first version of the DigComp framework was published in 2013, with updates published in 2016, 2017 and 2022. All versions of the framework are underpinned by a scientific evidence-based approach and consultation with experts and stakeholders. Similary, this iteration of DigComp has been shaped by scientific research and input and feedback from around 300 experts and stakeholders from a diversity of backgrounds.
This update responds to significant developments, trends and practices in relation to digital technologies that have occurred since 2022. It is shaped by five main priorities identified in expert and stakeholder consultations and policy and academic literature: AI competence; cybersecurity competence; rights, choice and responsibility; wellbeing in digital environments; and competence to deal with misinformation and disinformation. In addition, DigComp3.0 embodies the human-centric values of the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade.
Like the previous editions, DigComp 3.0 has five competence areas:

1. information search, evaluation and management;
2. communication and collaboration;
3. content creation;
4. safety, wellbeing and responsible use, including the environmental impact of digital technologies; and
5. problem identification and solving.

These are further divided into 21 competences. Four proficiency levels (basic, intermediate, advanced and highly advanced) describe levels of progression. This iteration of the framework includes new and revised competence statements and over 500 new learning outcomes. Learning outcomes are statements for each competence that describe what an individual is expected to know, understand or be able to do after a learning process. They are classified by knowledge, skills and attitudes. Competence statements do not distinguish between knowledge, skills and attitudes, but contain all of the key content of the learning outcomes. As the framework is already used by many stakeholders in various initiatives, the update reflects a balance between structural and conceptual consistency on one hand, and changes needed in response to digital technological developments on the other.