diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DataSpecUtils.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DataSpecUtils.h
index 9ade6382b7e2c..aeeef13ed9b43 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DataSpecUtils.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DataSpecUtils.h
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ struct DataSpecUtils {
   /// @return true if the OutputSpec will match at least the provided @a origin.
   static bool partialMatch(OutputSpec const& spec, o2::header::DataOrigin const& origin);
 
+  /// @return true if the OutputSpec will match at least the provided @a description.
+  static bool partialMatch(InputSpec const& spec, o2::header::DataDescription const& description);
+
+  /// @return true if the OutputSpec will match at least the provided @a description.
+  static bool partialMatch(OutputSpec const& spec, o2::header::DataDescription const& description);
+
   template <typename T>
   static bool match(const T& spec, const o2::header::DataHeader& header)
   {
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/DataSpecUtils.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/DataSpecUtils.cxx
index 73080bc144e93..8eb02f2629d2a 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/DataSpecUtils.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/DataSpecUtils.cxx
@@ -265,6 +265,18 @@ bool DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(InputSpec const& input, header::DataOrigin cons
   return DataSpecUtils::asConcreteOrigin(input) == origin;
 }
 
+bool DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(InputSpec const& input, header::DataDescription const& description)
+{
+  auto dataType = DataSpecUtils::asConcreteDataTypeMatcher(input);
+  return dataType.description == description;
+}
+
+bool DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(OutputSpec const& output, header::DataDescription const& description)
+{
+  auto dataType = DataSpecUtils::asConcreteDataTypeMatcher(output);
+  return dataType.description == description;
+}
+
 ConcreteDataMatcher DataSpecUtils::asConcreteDataMatcher(InputSpec const& spec)
 {
   return std::get<ConcreteDataMatcher>(spec.matcher);
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/unittest_DataSpecUtils.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/unittest_DataSpecUtils.cxx
index 9a394ba481b35..d1d91ad74ae05 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/unittest_DataSpecUtils.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/unittest_DataSpecUtils.cxx
@@ -201,6 +201,12 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(PartialMatching)
 
   BOOST_CHECK(DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(fullySpecifiedOutput, header::DataOrigin("FOO")) == false);
   BOOST_CHECK(DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(fullySpecifiedInput, header::DataOrigin("FOO")) == false);
+
+  BOOST_CHECK(DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(fullySpecifiedOutput, header::DataDescription("TEST")) == false);
+  BOOST_CHECK(DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(fullySpecifiedInput, header::DataDescription("TSET")) == false);
+
+  BOOST_CHECK(DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(fullySpecifiedOutput, header::DataDescription("FOOO")) == true);
+  BOOST_CHECK(DataSpecUtils::partialMatch(fullySpecifiedInput, header::DataDescription("FOOO")) == true);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(GetOptionalSubSpecWithMatcher)