metadatennorm

Metadatennorm is a term that refers to a standard or guideline for the creation and management of metadata. Metadata itself is data that describes other data, providing context and information about a resource. Metadatennorms are essential for ensuring consistency, interoperability, and usability of data across different systems and applications.

These norms typically define the structure, content, and syntax of metadata. This includes specifying what types of information should be recorded, the format in which it should be presented, and the controlled vocabularies or thesauri that should be used for descriptive terms. For example, a metadatennorm for digital photographs might specify fields for the photographer's name, the date the photo was taken, the location, and keywords describing the image content.

The adoption of metadatennorms facilitates data discovery and retrieval. When data is described according to a common standard, users can more easily search for and understand relevant information. This is particularly important in large-scale data repositories, digital libraries, and scientific databases. Furthermore, metadatennorms support data sharing and exchange by ensuring that data can be interpreted by different systems and users.

Various organizations and communities develop and maintain metadatennorms tailored to their specific needs. Examples include Dublin Core for general resource description, ISO standards for specific domains like geospatial data, and community-specific standards for fields such as biology or archaeology. The effectiveness of a metadatennorm often depends on its clarity, comprehensiveness, and the extent of its adoption within a relevant community.