Different kinds of metadata: an overview

Edited by Asheesh Kamal

LIS Cafe Website, 2022

 

 

There are different types of metadata:

 

Administrative metadata:-

When a document is created there are several kinds of information also generated with it. These information are valid and useful during the whole life span of document. These data are stored in as Administrative metadata.

 

Technical Metadata:-

The technical metadata stores information regarding the file type and associated content type and how it should be rendered.  It stores information regarding the how the bytes should be read or in other words how the file should be read.  Apart from this it also stores information regarding size or the extent of the file.

 

Structural Metadata:-

Structural metadata or structural map of an object explains different components and their role.  This handles various sections and sub-sections of the documents and their corresponding relations and roles.

 

Descriptive Metadata:-

The metadata used for describing the documents is descriptive metadata. AACR2 and MARC21 are good example of descriptive metadata.  Descriptive metadata stores information regarding title, author, place, publisher and so on.  This metadata set is important for identification for locating the documents.

 

Preservation Metadata:-

One of the most important metadata set used for digital preservation is Preservation metadata. Digital preservation is process of increasing longitivity of documents from physical deterioration.  The deterioration of digital objects is against time, technology, media and transfer.  In order to secure document and its original features libraries, archive and museum need some kind of documentation in a form of metadata.

 

Reference:

1. Wikipedia

      2. IGNOU Study Materials