Did you know: that the first recorded use of metadata can be traced back to ancient times? In the 3rd century BC, the Greek philosopher Theophrastus wrote a book called “Enquiry into Plants,” which had detailed descriptions of hundreds of plant species. These detailed descriptions included metadata for every plant entry, such as the plant’s physical characteristics, habitat, and medicinal properties.
Metadata has been used for centuries as a tool for organizing and describing information, and metadata is everywhere. It’s hidden in your photos, embedded in your music files, and even stored in your social media posts. Despite its omnipresence, many people don’t fully understand what metadata is, and how it’s used.
In a nutshell, metadata is structured, organized reference data that helps categorize, track, sort, and identify attributes of the information to which it refers. It provides context and additional details about a piece of information, and there are three main types of metadata: descriptive, structural, and administrative.
“Structured, organized reference data that helps categorize, track, sort and identify attributes of the information to which it refers.”
→ Descriptive metadata includes information such as the title, author, and subject of a document or file.
→ Structural metadata describes how different pieces of information are related to each other, such as the chapters of a book or the tracks on a music album.
→ Administrative metadata includes information about how a file is stored, managed, and preserved.
For example, search engines use metadata to index and rank websites, making it easier for users to find relevant information. Another interesting application of metadata is in the field of digital forensics. By analyzing metadata from digital devices, investigators can reconstruct the timeline of events and gather evidence in criminal investigations.