What is Metadata?

Metadata is data about data; it provides a context for the data and facilitates the understanding, usage and management of data - it helps people to clarify and find the actual data.

A simple example is in file systems. Every time you create and save a new file or document on your computer, metadata is created that records the date the file was created, when it was last modified, and when it was last accessed.

A digital photo also has metadata stored about it, such as when the photo was taken and the size of the photo.