What is Metadata Management

Definition

Metadata management is the practice of capturing, organising, and maintaining the data that describes other data, such as definitions, schemas, ownership, lineage, and usage, so that data assets are understandable, discoverable, and governable across the organisation.

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Makes data understandable by capturing definitions, context, and ownership
Powers discovery and lineage by maintaining structured metadata centrally
Supports governance through classification and policy tagging of assets
Improves trust by exposing where data came from and how current it is

Glossary: Data Catalog

Real World Example

A retailer's metadata management practice records definitions, owners, and lineage for every table, so analysts searching the catalog instantly understand what 'net revenue' means and which pipeline produces it.

FAQs

What types of metadata exist?

Technical metadata such as schemas, business metadata such as definitions and ownership, and operational metadata such as lineage and usage.

Why is metadata management important?

It turns opaque data into understandable, discoverable, governable assets, underpinning catalogs, lineage, and governance.

How does it relate to a data catalog?

A catalog is the tool that stores and surfaces managed metadata so users can search and understand data assets.