Metadata are data that contain information about other data. They describe the properties, attributes, or characteristics of data, documents, or other information and are used to better understand, organize, and manage them. Metadata can take various forms, including descriptions, identifiers, classifications, relationships, and more. They play an important role in organizing and structuring information, searching and finding data, managing resources, and interoperating between different systems.
Typical features of software in the area of "metadata" include:
Capture: Capturing metadata from various sources or file formats, including automatic extraction or manual input.
Storage: Storing metadata in a structured form that allows efficient management and searchability.
Enrichment: Enriching metadata by adding additional information or links to improve its meaningfulness and accuracy.
Management: Managing metadata including versioning, permissions, access control, and retention policies.
Search and indexing: Indexing metadata for quick and precise searching and finding of information.