Metadata
"Data about data": what each field means, where it comes from, who is responsible, when it was updated and who may use it.
Metadata describes data. If a value is "250", its metadata says it is an order amount, in euros, before VAT, coming from the ERP, updated every night and owned by the sales department.
Three types are usually distinguished: business (definitions, owners, rules), technical (tables, formats, types, lineage) and operational (load date, volume, errors). The data catalogue and business glossary are, at heart, systems for managing metadata.
They are the basis for finding and understanding data, and they are essential for AI: Article 10 of the AI Act requires documenting the origin and preparation of training data, which is only possible if metadata is kept up to date.
Reference: DAMA-DMBOK; Art. 10 AI Act
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← Back to the glossaryUpdated: October 2026 · Informational content, not legal advice.