Metadata

Metadata is simply the data about data. It is the data that provides additional information intended to make scientific data interpretable and reusable.

Metadata is structured information that describes content and makes it easier to find or use. A metadata record can be embedded in data itself or exist separately from the data. Metadata may describe:

• Ownership
• Purpose
• Methods
• Contact
• Organization 
• When and where the data was generated 
• Abbreviations or codes used in the data
• Conditions for use of data
• Technical information about the data

There are many metadata standards or schemas with their own set of elements that have been standardized for particular field of research. Which one is right for your data will depend on the type, scale, and discipline of your research project. Please see Metadata Standards [tab] for further information. 

Metadata contributes to effective research management. Common data documentation methods include data dictionaries, lab notebooks, qualitative codebooks, etc. Data documentation also often involves using standardized naming and formatting conventions as well as data and metadata standards and ontologies.

Online Guide to Metadata for Effective Research Data Management

• This online guide provides a brief introduction to what is metadata and how to create comprehensive metadata.

Metadata also contributes to the FAIRness of research

• The FAIR Data Principles are a set of guiding principles to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable.