Refers to information that describes, organizes, and connects other information. It is often called "data about data" because it helps explain what something is, how to find it, and how it is structured. Metadata is used in libraries, websites, and digital systems to make information easier to search for and use.

There are different types of metadata, including:

• Descriptive metadata (like a book’s title, author, and keywords)
• Access metadata (information that helps people find and use a resource)
• Structural metadata (details about how information is organized or linked)

Metadata is also known as cataloging information, indexing data, or linked data when it connects different pieces of information in a way both people and computers can understand.

At the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library, all public resource descriptions are metadata.