Metadata is best described as:

• A. Data about data
• B. A physical data store
• C. People metadata
• D. A programming language

Answer: (A)

Metadata is data about data. It provides the contextual details that describe a data asset, making it easier to understand, manage, and use. This includes information like who created the data, when it was created or modified, its format and size, and how it is structured (schemas, data types). It also covers lineage (where the data came from and how it has been transformed), quality indicators, access permissions, and retention rules. These descriptive details aren’t the actual content of the data; they’re descriptive information that helps with discovery, governance, and interoperability.

It isn’t a physical data store, since metadata isn’t a place where data is kept, but rather descriptors about the data. While metadata can include information about people involved with the data, that’s just part of what metadata may cover, not its entire essence. It also isn’t a programming language.