Metadata refers to the structured information that describes and provides context for data, making it easier to understand, organize, and retrieve. Metadata management is highly important, especially in the context of data management, information systems, and digital content. This interesting topic came to us from TLNT in their article, “Don’t just look at data; look at data about data.”
Organizations often deal with diverse data sources and formats. Metadata acts as a bridge between different systems, enabling data integration and interoperability. It facilitates data exchange, harmonization, and mapping between disparate systems and databases.
It also plays a vital role in maintaining data quality. By defining and enforcing standards for data structure, validation rules, and data lineage, metadata helps ensure that data is accurate, consistent, and reliable. It enables data governance and supports data cleansing and transformation processes.
Metadata makes digital content findable. Findability, however, works only when a proper taxonomy is in place. Proper indexing against a strong standards-based taxonomy increases the findability of data. Access Innovations is one of a very small number of companies able to help its clients generate ANSI/ISO/W3C-compliant taxonomies.
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Data Harmony, harmonizing knowledge for a better search experience.