Metadata
Structured information that describes a record — who created it, when, in what context, and how it relates to other records — enabling the record to be found, understood, and trusted over time.
Metadata is “data about data” — the structured information that gives a record its context. For a record, metadata typically captures who created or received it, when, the business activity it relates to, its classification and retention, and its relationships to other records.
Metadata is what makes a record findable, interpretable, and trustworthy. Without it, an electronic file is just content with no proof of its origin or integrity; with it, the record can be authenticated, managed against a retention schedule, and produced as reliable evidence years later. Because of this, capturing adequate metadata at the point of creation is one of the most important steps in electronic records management.