Metadata

Introduction to Metadata

• Metadata is data about data, providing detailed information about other data.
• It describes, explains, locates, or makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage data.
• It’s used to provide documentation for data products.

Types of Metadata

• There are three main types of metadata: descriptive, structural and adminstrative.
• Descriptive metadata provides information to help discover and identify data. It might include elements such as title, abstract, author, and keywords.
• Structural metadata provides information about the containers of data and indicates how compound objects are put together. It includes page numbers, chapters, sections, etc.
• Administrative metadata provides information to help manage a resource, such as when and how it was created, file type and other technical information, and who can access it.

Role and Importance of Metadata

• Metadata makes it easier to locate and retrieve information.
• It helps organise electronic resources, provide digital identification, and support the archiving and preservation of resources.
• Without metadata, finding information would be much more difficult. For example, a search engine uses metadata to rank the answers to your web search.
• It’s particularly useful in digital databases, where it can be used to describe behaviours, business rules, and other aspects not present in the physical database.

Metadata in ICT

• In Information and Communication Technology (ICT), metadata is used in various formats and scenarios.
• It’s used in resource discovery to provide resources with descriptive and administrative tracking information.
• Video files, for example, may contain metadata describing the content, author, creation data, and duration.

Concerns with Metadata

• Privacy is a significant concern with metadata as it can be used to monitor individuals’ behaviour online.
• It’s crucial to ensure that sensitive metadata is protected and handled responsibly.