Industries that process and use metals, from microelectronics to aerospace, can use phase equilibria data for complex alloys (three or more components)and diffusion data for controlling the formation and dissolution of precipitate phases within a matrix or at an interface. The number of images or data tables that would be needed for graphical representation of such data is prohibitively large. Thermodynamic and diffusion databases provide a compact, retrievable method of storing such data. They also permit extrapolation of these properties from binary and ternary systems to needed higher order systems based on a physical model. Special task software, which allows the non-expert to extract the required information, has been made available by NIST projects on casting of superalloys and lead-free solders. Examples for user friendly data representation and data utilization in advanced applications will be presented.