dataordbøker

Dataordbøker are centralized repositories of metadata about data elements and data structures used within an organization or application. They describe what data exists, what it means, how it is stored, and how it relates to other data, enabling clearer understanding and more effective data management.

A dataordbok typically records elements such as name, description, data type, length or precision, allowed values or domains, nullability, default values, and whether the element is a key or identifier. It also notes the business meaning, data steward or owner, source system, data lineage, refresh frequency, and any transformations or mappings applied in data pipelines. Some dataordbøker separate technical metadata (schemas, tables, columns, indexes) from business metadata (glossaries, business rules).

Types and implementations vary: many database management systems include a built-in data dictionary via system catalogs or information_schema; larger organizations use standalone metadata repositories or data catalogs that aggregate metadata from multiple sources. These repositories may support automatic metadata harvesting, versioning, and metadata lineage.

Purposes of dataordbøker include supporting data governance, data quality initiatives, impact analysis, documentation, search and discovery, and regulatory compliance. They help ensure consistent naming and understanding across teams and enable safer changes to data structures.

Challenges in maintaining dataordbøker include keeping information accurate and up to date, reconciling different terminologies between business and IT, scaling the repository across large environments, and integrating with other metadata and cataloging tools.