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\index{Metadata}\label{What Is Metadata?}\emph{Metadata} is \emph{data about data}. Metadata can often be thought |
\index{Metadata}\label{What Is Metadata?}\emph{Metadata} is \emph{data about data}. Metadata can often be thought |
of as a label on some bit of information that can be useful to people or |
of as a label on some bit of information that can be useful to people or |
computer programs trying to use the data. Without metadata, the person or |
computer programs trying to use the data. Without metadata, the person or |
computer trying to use the original information would have to just guess |
computer trying to use the original information would have to guess |
what the original data is about. For instance, if you create a problem and |
what the original data is about. For example, if you create a problem and |
neglect to say in the title or subject of the problem what it is about, then |
neglect to say in the title or subject of the problem what it is about, then |
a human who wants to use that problem would have to read the problem itself |
a human who wants to use that problem would have to read the problem itself |
to see what it was about, which is much more difficult than just reading |
to see what it was about, which is much more difficult than just reading |
a title. A computer trying to do the same thing would just be out of luck; |
a title. A computer trying to do the same thing would be out of luck; |
it is too stupid to understand the problem statement at all. |
it is too stupid to understand the problem statement at all. |
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One example of metadata is the <title> of a web page, which usually shows |
One example of metadata is the <title> of a web page, which usually shows |
up in the title bar of the browser. That's information about the web page |
up in the title bar of the browser. That is information about the web page |
itself, not actually part of the web page. People use the title information |
itself and is not actually part of the web page. People use the title information |
when they bookmark a page, so they know what the page is. Search engines |
when they bookmark a page. Search engines |
use it as a clue about the content of the web page. |
use it as a clue about the content of the web page. |
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