metadatien

Metadati, often referred to as "data about data," are pieces of information that describe other data. They provide context and facilitate the understanding, management, and discovery of resources. For example, a photograph's metadata might include details such as the date and time it was taken, the camera model used, and potentially location information. In a digital library, metadata for a book could include its title, author, publication date, and subject keywords.

The purpose of metadata is to make data more accessible and usable. It allows users to search for information more effectively, understand the origin and characteristics of a resource, and determine its relevance to their needs. Metadata can be created manually by humans or automatically by computer systems. Different types of metadata exist, including descriptive metadata (which describes the content of a resource), structural metadata (which describes relationships between resources), and administrative metadata (which provides information to manage a resource, such as its creation date or access rights).

Metadata plays a crucial role in various fields, from information science and library science to web development and data management. It underpins the functionality of search engines, databases, and digital archives. Without metadata, finding and organizing large collections of data would be significantly more challenging. The standardization of metadata formats, such as Dublin Core or EXIF, is important for ensuring interoperability and consistency across different systems and applications.