(1) (meta-data) Data that describes other data. The term may refer to detailed compilations such as data dictionaries and repositories that provide a substantial amount of information about each data element. It may also refer to any descriptive item about data, such as a title in a media file, a group of key words in a written article or hidden tags in a Web page. For example, digital cameras store meta-data in their images that describe the camera settings for that photo (see EXIF). Digital music files contain meta-data such as the song title and artist name (see ID3 tag). Meta-data are often stored in an HTML page (Web page) to help it rank high in search engine results (see meta tag).
Meta-data has existed for centuries. Card catalogs and handwritten indexes are examples long before the electronic age. See meta tag, data dictionary, repository and Meta Data Coalition.
(2) (The Metadata Company, Brentwood, TN, www.metadata.com). Formerly Metadata Information Partners, it is a software firm specializing in data management products as well as providing consulting and custom information systems to the health care and government industries. Although the term "metadata," spelled the same with lower case "m," is widely used to refer to data about data (see definition #1 above), the company trademarked the word in 1986 and was granted "incontestable" status in 1991.
Meta-data has existed for centuries. Card catalogs and handwritten indexes are examples long before the electronic age. See meta tag, data dictionary, repository and Meta Data Coalition.
(2) (The Metadata Company, Brentwood, TN, www.metadata.com). Formerly Metadata Information Partners, it is a software firm specializing in data management products as well as providing consulting and custom information systems to the health care and government industries. Although the term "metadata," spelled the same with lower case "m," is widely used to refer to data about data (see definition #1 above), the company trademarked the word in 1986 and was granted "incontestable" status in 1991.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Panoply 2.8.5 (Mac)
- Panoply is a Java application which plots geo-gridded arrays from netCDF, HDF and GRIB datasets. You can: Slice and plot specific latitude-longitude, latitude-vertical, or time-latitude arrays from larger multidimensional variables. Combine two arrays in one plot by differencing, summing or averaging. Plot lon-lat data on a global or regional map...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- ImageBrain 1.06 (Mac)
- Advanced software for image identification and photo matching! ImageBrain is the first image search engine on the local drive to use image identification technology (PSNR-K) rather than keywords, metadata or watermarks...Features: Searching face to face Delete duplicate CoverFlow QuickLook Drag and Drop Widget support Image information Log Skip Folder Virtual...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- FastPictureViewer WIC Codec Pack 1.50 (Windows)
- A set of free 32-bit and 64-bit codecs that enable full support for raw image formats from 12 manufacturers, covering 300 digital cameras in Windows 7, Vista and XP. Provides thumbnail support in Windows Explorer, along with viewing and slideshows in Photo Gallery / Photo Viewer and Window 7's Media...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- Document Trace Remover 3.5 (Windows)
- A leaked document can compromise trade secrets and threaten company security. But did you know that even a document that you send or publish may also contain sensitive information that may harm your privacy and company security? Every time you create a document in a Microsoft Office application such as...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- iSubtitle 1.5.3 (Mac)
- Create soft subtitled movies for iPod (Touch, Classic, Nano), iPhone (2G, 3G, 3GS), Apple TV, iTunes or any QuickTime based player or application. The first and only application to take full advantage of Apple's soft subtitle technology. The subtitle tracks are resolution independent and rendered in real-time as you watch...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Wave Editor 1.4.6b4 (Mac)
- Direct editing of AIFF, WAVE, Sound Designer, ACID, Apple Loop, and uLaw audio files Read-only support for Recycle (REX, RX2 and RCY) files Supports any sample rate or bit depth Supports any number of channels Supports interleaved and split channel files Imports and exports MP3, AAC, AC-3 and other CoreAudio-supported...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- ImageBrain 1.05.06 (Mac)
- Advanced software for image identification and photo matching! ImageBrain is the first image search engine on the local drive to use image identification technology (PSNR-K) rather than keywords, metadata or watermarks...Features: Searching face to face Delete duplicate CoverFlow QuickLook Drag and Drop Widget support Image information Log Skip Folder Virtual...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- ARRIRAW Toolkit for Final Cut Studio 1.0.6 (Mac)
- ARRIRAW Toolkit for Final Cut Studio allows users to import and work with files created by the ARRIFLEX D-21 Digital Cinema Camera. The software will perform all of the importing, playback, debayer, Exposure Index/ASA and White Point color correction functions. Any QuickTime enabled application is instantly compatible with the ARRIRAW...
- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Picture Information Extractor 5.45 (Windows)
- The deluxe photo data toolkit. Image browser that extracts all metadata from JPG and RAW files of almost any digital camera. Allows to edit metadata and adjust date/time picture taken without destroying Makernote data. Transfers images, renames automatically, rotates losslessly. Includes file manager and fast picture viewer with slide show...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Accord CD Ripper Standard 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to divided files one file per track or to CD images (one file...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Accord CD Ripper Professional 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF, AIFF, AIFC, AIF, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, MPC, MP+, MPP, WV. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Plex 0.8.5 (Mac)
- Plex bridges the gap between your Mac and your home theater, doing so with a visually appealing user interface that provides instant access to your media. Plex can play a wide range of video, audio and photo formats as well as online streaming audio and video. The real power of...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Accord CD Ripper Free 6.1.6 (Windows)
- The best of all, it's a FREE cd ripper. Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Retrieve album info from remote and local CDDB Compact Disc Database servers. CDDB info can be...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Chapter and Verse 1.3.3.5 (Windows)
- Chapter and Verse is a free software tool to create chapterized audiobooks for the iPod, iTunes and Quicktime on the Windows operating system. Starting with Advanced Audio Coding AAC formatted files, Chapter and Verse can combine multiple input files into a single audiobook file with chapter marks. Chapters can be...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- Accord CD Ripper Xtreme 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF, AIFF, AIFC, AIF, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, MPC, MP+, MPP, WV, AU, SND, RAW, GSM, VOX, PCM, ADPCM, G721, G723, FAP, PAF, SVX, 8SVX, IFF, NIST, IRCAM, SF, VOC, W64, MAT, MAT4, MAT5, PVF, XI, HTK,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- Snowtape 1.3.4 (Mac)
- Listen to your Favorite Radio - With its high-performance database, Snowtape is able to store thousands of radio stations for you to choose from. You can search for a particular station or sort the list by e.g. genre and bandwidth. You can also add any radio station onto your favorites...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- Metalith 2.6.00 (Windows)
- Metalith is the essential application for reading and analyzing meta information in image files. The main features of the program are abilities to compare meta data of multiple files, to search for files containing specific data, and to search unsuitable metadata. The program supports different standards of metadata, as well...
- Software downloads 2009-11-15
- FileFinder 1.6.1 (Mac)
- FileFinder is a Mac OS X native cataloger that memorizes any disk or folder hierarchy. It can quickly browse or search files, whether you have physical access to them or not. FileFinder supports image previews, image metadata, and archive files for offline searches.
- Software downloads 2009-11-15
- iFlicks 1.1 build 614 (Mac)
- Using iFlicks you can easily import your Video Collection into iTunes. This gives you the ability to watch your Videos directly in iTunes or transfer them to your iPod or iPhone. On top of that iFlicks downloads Metadata for your Videos and lets you tweak the Metadata manually. Managing your...
- Software downloads 2009-11-14
- Calibre 0.6.23 (Mac)
- Calibre is a one stop solution to your e-book needs. It is free, open source and cross-platform in design. Calibre is meant to be a complete e-library solution and thus includes library management, format conversion, news feeds to e-book conversion, as well as e-book reader sync features and an integrated...
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- Save time with automated shipping solutions
-
The Business Essentials Guide provides you useful tools and templates to help grow your business and save you time with automated shipping solutions.
- Visit the UPS Business Essentials Guide
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
Enterprise Applications
- Check out some of the easiest and most powerful ways to boost productivity while saving money on your application infrastructure. See ZDNet's comprehensive Enterprise Application resource center, now!
- New Online Dashboard
-
- Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost effective solutions to real life IT problems. Oracle Topline
-
