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Metadata
Data that describes other data, providing context about structure, meaning, origin, and usage.
In-Depth Explanation
Metadata is "data about data" - information that describes characteristics of other data. It helps users and systems understand, find, and use data effectively.
Types of metadata:
- Technical: Schema, data types, constraints
- Operational: Created date, last updated, row counts
- Business: Definitions, ownership, classifications
- Social: Ratings, comments, usage frequency
Metadata examples:
- Column names and data types
- Table descriptions and purposes
- Data owner and steward
- Data quality scores
- Access permissions
- Transformation logic
Metadata management:
- Data catalogs (central repository)
- Metadata standards (naming conventions)
- Automated collection
- Manual curation for business context
- Search and discovery
Why metadata matters:
- Find relevant data (discovery)
- Understand data meaning (context)
- Ensure proper use (governance)
- Assess data quality (trust)
Business Context
Good metadata makes data findable and usable. Without it, data becomes a liability rather than an asset.
How Clever Ops Uses This
We help Australian businesses implement metadata management, making data assets discoverable and trustworthy for AI applications.
Example Use Case
"A data catalog with metadata showing: table purpose, column definitions, data owner, update frequency, and quality score - helping analysts find and trust data."