Headtaulukko

Headtaulukko is a term that may be encountered in Finnish contexts to describe a table whose primary purpose is to hold header or metadata information about another dataset. It is not a standardized term in databases or programming, but it can appear in documentation, data dictionaries, or project notes when a table is used to describe the structure of a data file or table.

Definition and role

A headtaulukko usually lists the fields of a dataset, including column names, data types, units, descriptions, and constraints. Its main function is to provide metadata that guides data ingestion, validation, mapping, and interpretation. The actual data values reside in the related data table; the headtaulukko describes how that data is organized.

Structure and typical content

Common columns in a headtaulukko include field_name or column_name, data_type, description, units, required/nullable, allowed_values, and notes. Depending on the context, additional attributes such as default values or foreign key references may be included. The headtaulukko thus acts as a concise schema or data dictionary for a dataset.

Usage and context

In data preparation and data governance, a headtaulukko can steer import routines, validation rules, and documentation efforts. It is often created when exporting a schema from a data model or when assembling project-wide metadata to help team members understand the dataset.

Terminology and related concepts

The standard Finnish term for this idea is often otsikkotaulukko or taulukon metatiedot. In English-speaking contexts, it is related to a data dictionary or schema table. The term headtaulukko is more likely to appear in informal notes or code comments rather than formal specifications.