Metadata isn’t anything particularly new to humans. We’ve been using it as far back as the 280 B.C. in the Great Library of Alexandria. On each scroll, there was a small tags attached that provided descriptive information to aid in locating information easier. Though, the term ‘metadata’ did not come into parlance until the development of database technology. At it’s core, metadata is information about a piece a content. It’s data about data.
We all see basic metadata without even realizing it. Ever sort your documents by date added? That’s metadata. Organize files by size? Also metadata. If you’ve ever navigated through a Finder or a file explorer, you are no stranger to metadata. It’s been there the whole time.
If you’re wondering how to get started on your own metadata journey, a good place to start is with attributes that will make your content findable. If you’re often working with signed documents, create a metadata template with the type of document (NDA, SOW, etc) and the signed date. If you’re working with marketing images, use a metadata template with attributes like file type and key aspects of the image. By starting with what makes it findable, you can then search by those specific metadata attributes making it easier to pull up every Scope of Work signed in the last 30 days.
In general, there are 5 types of metadata. Below, we have a brief overview of these categories and examples of each type.
| Type of Metadata | Purpose | Examples |
| Descriptive metadata | Identifies and provides information about the data for easy discovery. | Title, author, keywords, genre, summary. |
| Structural metadata | Describes the organization and relationships within and between data. Used in databases or data warehouses | Document sections, table schemas, data relationships (e.g., primary keys and foreign keys). |
| Administrative metadata | Manages data access, permissions, and compliance. | Access rights, creation/modification dates, copyright information, file type. |
| Technical metadata | Specifies technical details to ensure compatibility and data quality. | File format, resolution, compression type, storage location, encryption. |
| Statistical metadata | Documents the processes and methods used to create and analyze the data. | Sampling method, data source, data transformation steps, collection methodology. |
There are additional categories of metadata, such a use metadata, legal metadata, preservation metadata, process metadata, and provenance metadata that have more specific use cases that may vary in relevance from one organization to another.
As you look to get started with your metadata journey, I hope this provides you with a better understanding of how to set yourself up for success!