Metadati

Metadata is structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource. In Italian usage, metadati is the term for metadata. It can be embedded within a file or stored separately in a catalog, database, or repository. Metadata supports discovery, organization, preservation, and interoperability across systems.

There are several broad categories of metadata. Descriptive metadata includes the title, author, subject, keywords, and abstract used to discover resources. Structural metadata describes how components of a compound object relate, such as chapters in a book or tracks on an audio file. Administrative metadata records provenance, rights, access permissions, and preservation events. Technical metadata captures format, size, resolution, and creation date.

Standards and schemas guide metadata creation. Common examples include Dublin Core for bibliographic resources, schema.org markup for web pages, and METS and PREMIS used in digitization and archiving. Image files often carry technical metadata through EXIF, and may also include IPTC or XMP metadata. Metadata can be stored in RDF or other structured formats to enable machine readability and interoperability.

In practice, metadata enables better search, organization, and reuse. Libraries, archives, and museums rely on metadata to catalog collections; digital platforms use metadata to index and surface content in search results; publishers and repositories apply metadata to manage rights and versions. Metadata quality, consistency, and privacy considerations are ongoing concerns in information governance.