meta-data

1 definition found

meta-data - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  meta-data
  metainformation
  
     <data> /me't*-day`t*/, or combinations of /may'-/ or
     (Commonwealth) /mee'-/; /-dah`t*/ (Or "meta data") Data about
     data.  In data processing, meta-data is definitional data
     that provides information about or documentation of other data
     managed within an application or environment.
  
     For example, meta-data would document data about data elements
      or attributes, (name, size, data type, etc) and
     data about records or data structures (length, fields,
     columns, etc) and data about data (where it is located, how it
     is associated, ownership, etc.).  Meta-data may include
     descriptive information about the context, quality and
     condition, or characteristics of the data.
  
     Not to be confused with Metadata.
  
     (1997-04-06)