metadata
n.n. information that describes other information. For example, the date a photo was taken is metadata for that image.
n. a set of data that describes and gives information about other data. It provides context such as authorship, creation date, or file size to help manage and find digital resources.
The metadata shows that this document was created yesterday.
When you upload a video, the metadata includes the title, tags, and description to help people find it in search results.
Effective digital archiving relies on consistent metadata to ensure that researchers can filter through thousands of files by date, location, and subject matter.
Formed from the Greek prefix meta-, meaning beyond or transcending, and the Latin plural noun data. The term was coined in 1969 by Jack E. Myers.
Typically treated as uncountable in general contexts, though 'metadatum' exists as a rare singular form in technical database theory.