Introduction to Metadata

"Metadata" has existed for years but is still not clearly understood and often unused. But given technical communication\´s direction, metadata\´s importance is growing. Metadata is easy to define. (The complexity lies in the details and implementation.) The simplest type of metadata is the once common pull-out card drawers in libraries. Need a call number for the novel Ringworld? Pull out the R title card drawer, find "Ringworld", and note its number. Can\´t remember the book\´s name but you know Larry Niven wrote it... pull out the N author card drawer, find \´\´Niven, Larry", and note the number. The cards, now replaced by online versions, contain information - book name, author name, etc. - that help us find information - in this case, a book. That\´s the gist of metadata - information that helps us find, process, or manage other information. This paper summarizes metadata. The conference presentation will go into more detail