Metadaták

Metadaták, often translated as metadata, are data that provide information about other data. They describe, explain, locate, or otherwise make it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource. Think of them as the "data about data." For example, a digital photograph has metadata that includes details like the date and time it was taken, the camera model used, and sometimes even the location. A book in a library has metadata such as its title, author, publisher, publication date, and subject classification, which are all stored in a catalog.

The purpose of metadata is to provide context and structure, enabling users and systems to understand and interact with the primary data more effectively. This is crucial for various applications, including databases, digital libraries, file systems, and the internet. Metadata can be embedded directly within the data itself, such as the EXIF data in image files, or stored separately, like a library's card catalog or a database index.

Metadata can be categorized in several ways. Descriptive metadata identifies and describes an information resource, such as title and author. Structural metadata describes how compound objects are put together, like the order of pages in a book. Administrative metadata provides information to help manage a resource, such as when and how it was created or modified, and access rights. Technical metadata describes the technical characteristics of a resource, such as file format and size. The creation and use of metadata are fundamental to information management and retrieval.