What is Database Metadata? (Examples & Types)

Learn about the database metadata and the different types of metadata including structural, logical, and administrative. Discover how metadata can be used to improve data management, data governance, data discovery, data lineage and interoperability. In this post, you will understand the different ways to store metadata in a database.

Metadata is used in a database to provide additional information about the data stored in the database. This information can include details about the structure of the data, such as the names and data types of fields, as well as information about the data itself, such as its source, quality, and lineage.

What is Database Metadata?

Database metadata refers to data that describes the structure of a database, including information about the tables, columns, indexes, constraints, and other elements that make up the database. This metadata can be used to understand the organization and relationships of the data in the database, as well as to manage and maintain the database.

Database metadata can be used by database management systems (DBMS) as well as by developers, data analysts, and other users to understand the schema of a database and its components. Database metadata can be accessed and queried through a variety of methods such as SQL, specialized APIs and system catalog views.

Some examples of information that might be included in database metadata include:

The names, data types, and constraints for columns in a table.
The relationships between tables, such as foreign key constraints.
The indexes and keys that have been defined for the tables.
The names and locations of the physical files that make up the database.
The permissions and access controls that have been set up for the database.
The history of changes made to the database, such as when tables or columns were added or modified.

The term “metadata” can refer to data about data in general, not just in the context of databases.

Why Metadata is Used?

There are several reasons why metadata is used in a database:

Data management: Metadata can be used to help manage the data stored in a database by providing information about the structure of the data and the relationships between tables. This can make it easier to create and maintain the database, as well as to understand and query the data.
Data governance: Metadata can be used to enforce data governance policies and to track the use of the data. This can help to ensure that the data is used in accordance with regulatory requirements and that it is protected from unauthorized access.
Data discovery: Metadata can be used to help users discover the data that is stored in a database. For example, it can be used to create a catalog of the data that is stored in the database, making it easier for users to find the data they need.
Data lineage: Metadata can be used to track the lineage of data and to understand how it is transformed and moved through different systems. This is especially useful when data is used for analytics, where it is important to understand the source and quality of the data.
Data Interoperability: Metadata can be used to facilitate the interoperability of data across different systems by providing a common understanding of the data and its structure.

3 Types of Database Metadata

There are several types of database metadata, but some common ones include:

Structural Metadata:

This type of metadata provides information about the structure of the data in the database, such as the names of tables, columns, and indexes. Structural metadata is used to describe the physical organization of the data, such as the location of files and the storage format.

Logical Metadata:

This type of metadata provides information about the logical organization of the data, such as the relationships between tables and the business rules that govern the data. Logical metadata is used to describe the conceptual organization of the data, such as the business terms and concepts used to describe the data.

Administrative metadata:

This type of metadata provides information about how the data is managed and administered, such as the security settings, data quality rules, and backup and recovery procedures. Administrative metadata is used to describe how the data is protected, maintained and how it’s used.

Database Metadata Examples

Here are a few examples of how metadata can be used in a database:

Table Metadata

The names, data types, and constraints for columns in a table. For example, a table named “Customers” might have columns for “CustomerID” (integer, primary key), “FirstName” (varchar), and “LastName” (varchar)

Index Metadata

Information about the indexes that have been created on a table. For example, an index on the “LastName” column of the “Customers” table might be created to improve query performance.

Constraint Metadata

Information about the constraints that have been defined on a table, such as primary keys, foreign keys, and check constraints. For example, a foreign key constraint on the “Orders” table might reference the “CustomerID” column in the “Customers” table to enforce referential integrity.

View Metadata

Information about the views that have been created on a table. For example, a view named “TopCustomers” might be created to show the top 10 customers based on their total purchase amount.

Stored Procedure Metadata

Information about the stored procedures that have been created in the database. For example, a stored procedure named “UpdateCustomerAddress” might be created to update the address of a customer in the “Customers” table.

User Metadata

Information about the users who have access to the database, including their roles and permissions. For example, a user named “JohnDoe” might have permissions to read and write to the “Customers” table, but only read access to the “Orders” table.

Backup Metadata

Information about the backups that have been taken of the database, including the date and time of the backup, and the location of the backup files.

Performance Metadata

Information about the performance of the database, including query execution times, number of rows returned, and other performance statistics.

It’s worth noting that the kind of metadata that is available and the way it is stored can vary depending on the type of database management system(DBMS) used.

How to Store Metadata in Database?

There are several ways to store metadata in a database, depending on the specific requirements of the application. Some common methods include:

Data Dictionary

A data dictionary is a set of tables that are used to store metadata about the structure of the database. These tables typically include information about the tables, columns, indexes, and constraints in the database. Data dictionaries are often built into the database management system and can be queried using SQL.

Separate Metadata Repository

Another approach is to store metadata in a separate metadata repository, which is a database that is specifically designed to store metadata. This approach allows for more flexibility and control over the metadata, but it also requires additional resources to maintain the metadata repository.

Data Modeling Tool

A data modeling tool can be used to create a data model of the database and its metadata, which can then be stored in the database. This approach allows for the metadata to be visualized and managed in a more intuitive way.

Extended Properties

Some database management systems allow for metadata to be stored as extended properties of the tables, columns, and other objects in the database. This approach allows for the metadata to be stored directly with the data, making it more accessible and easier to manage.

XML or JSON Files

Some database management systems allow to store metadata in external files like XML or JSON. This approach allows for more flexibility and portability of the metadata, as it can be easily shared and understood across different systems.

What is Database Metadata (Examples & Types)

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