Metadatum

Metadatum refers to data that provides information about other data. It is essentially "data about data." The term itself is a singular form of "metadata," which is much more commonly used. Metadatum describes the characteristics, context, and structure of data, enabling its understanding, retrieval, and management.

Examples of metadatum include the author of a document, the date a photograph was taken, the file size of a video, or the data type of a column in a database. In the context of digital files, metadatum is often embedded within the file itself or stored separately. It can specify details like format, creation date, modification history, ownership, and access permissions.

The purpose of metadatum is multifaceted. It aids in organizing and categorizing information, making it easier for users and systems to find relevant data. It also helps in interpreting the meaning and significance of the primary data. For instance, knowing that a dataset represents sales figures from a specific region and time period is crucial for its accurate analysis. Furthermore, metadatum is essential for data governance, ensuring data quality, security, and compliance with regulations. Without metadatum, large volumes of data would be chaotic and largely unusable.