Smart Sea Tide

Jun 11, 2026 · Fundamentals

Understanding Metadata: Definitions, Types, and Key Functions

The article defines metadata as data about data, illustrates it with everyday examples, classifies it into technical, business, and management categories, and outlines eight core functions—including data asset mapping, fast search, flexible views, tagging, insight, lineage, impact analysis, and mapping—to improve data understanding, efficiency, quality, and cross‑system integration.