metadata

Metadata is information about a particular data set which may describe, for example, how, when, and by whom it was received, created, accessed, and/or modified and how it is formatted. Some metadata, such as file dates and sizes, can easily be seen by users; other metadata can be hidden or embedded and unavailable to computer users who are not technically adept. Metadata is generally not reproduced in full form when a document is printed. (Typically referred to by the less informative shorthand phrase dat

Structured information about an electronic file that is embedded in the file, but not normally visible when viewing a printed or on screen rendition of the document, that describes the characteristics, origins, usage and validity of other electronic files. Metadata has become an important component of discovery following the e-Discovery Amendments. Metadata can be characterized as application metadata or system metadata. Application metadata is information not visible on the printed page, but embedded in the document file, remaining with the file if it is copied. Microsoft Office routinely embeds many different types of metadata in word processing, spreadsheets and other applications. The same is true of other computer applications as well. Important types of metadata that may be embedded in Microsoft Office files includes: title, subject, author, comments, revision number, last print date, creation date, last save time, total editing time. Some documents may also include prior revisions and comments embedded in the metadata. System metadata is not embedded in the file, and instead is stored externally on the computer file system. System metadata does not remain with a file when it is copied. System metadata may include a file name, size, location, path, creation date and modification date. While application metadata can be modified, it is very difficult to modify system metadata. Some application metadata can be viewed as properties within an application or with third party metadata viewers. Analyzing the full range of application metadata, or system metadata, requires the services of a computer forensics expert.

Metadata is information about a particular data set which may describe, for example, how, when, and by whom it was received, created, accessed, and/or modified and how it is formatted. Some metadata, such as file dates and sizes, can easily be seen by users; other metadata can be hidden or embedded and unavailable to computer users who are not technically adept. Metadata is generally not reproduced in full form when a document is printed. (Typically referred to by the less informative shorthand phrase "data about data," it describes the content, quality, condition, history, and other characteristics of the data.)

Often described as "information or data about the data." Typically refers to information about primary data, which is usually numerical, or information describing aspects of the primary data. Such information could include, for example, instrument site information, environmental conditions under which the data were acquired, and any other data needed to understand the primary data.

The properties associated with a document. Metadata can be system-defined, such as file size or modified date, or user-defined, such as author or title.

Data that describes the characteristics of data; descriptive data

Data about data. In relation to Exchange, this term can be used in the context of Active Directory, but can also be used to describe the structure within the store or the MTA. [Exchange 2000]

Information that describes the content, quality, condition, origin, and other characteristics of data or other pieces of information. The DC Federated Data Model provides the District government standards for metadata.

Amazon S3, Amazon EMR: A set of name/value pairs that describe the object. These include default metadata such as the date last modified and standard HTTP metadata such as Content-Type. Users can also specify custom metadata at the time they store an object.

Amazon EC2: Data about an EC2 instance that the instance can retrieve to determine things about itself, such as, the instance type, the IP address, and so on.

Structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource See also contextual information.

data that describes other data, such as data-set that describes the structure, attributes, processing operations, changes, access history, and the like of a database or file structure [metadata is an essential ingredient to maintain and display the structure, content, and context of any permanent record; metadata must be migrated (or transferred) inextricably tied to its related content information, from generation to generation of systems if a record is to retain its evidential integrity].

Information on the definition, structure, and usage of data within a system or organization. See also data dictionary and documentation.

Metadata is often described as "data about data". It typically augments the full text of a document to help with recall, precision, creating filters, and working with navigators.