Metadata provides information, keywords or characteristics about content or data. It is typically hidden from view within the content's code or file properties.
Examples of metadata:
- A web page adds metadata as a meta tag within the source code. It is referenced by search engines to identify relevant search content. It may reference the page title, content description, and keywords.
- A Word document has metadata such as the author name, document size, number of words, and the created date contained within the file properties.
- A digital photo has metadata such as your location, the date of the photo, and camera model contained within the image properties.