Metadata registry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A metadata registry is a central location in an organization where metadata definitions are stored and maintained in a controlled method.

Contents

Metadata registries are used whenever data must be used consistently within an organization or group of organizations. Examples of these situations include:

  1. Organizations that transmit data using structures such as XML, Web Services or EDI
  2. Organizations that need consistent definitions of data across time, between organizations or between processes. For example when an organization builds a data warehouse
  3. Organization that are attempting to break down "silos" of information captured within applications or proprietary file formats

Central to the charter of any metadata management project is the process of creating trusting relationship with stakeholder that definitions and structures have been reviewed and approved by appropriate parties.

A metadata registry typically has the following characteristics:

  1. It is a protected area where only approved individuals may make changes
  2. It stores data elements that include both semantics and representations
  3. The semantic areas of a metadata registry contain the meaning of a data element with precise definitions
  4. The representational areas of a metadata registry define how the data is represented in a specific format such as within a database or a structure file format such as XML

Because metadata registries are used to store both semantics (the meaning of a data element) and systems-specific constraints (for example the maximum length of a string) it is important to identify what systems impose these constraints and to document them. For example the maximum length of a string should not change the meaning of a data element.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standards for a metadata registry called ISO/IEC 11179.

A metadata registry is frequently set up and administered by an organization's data architect or data modeling team.

Data elements are frequently assigned to data stewards or data stewardship teams that are responsible for the maintenance of individual data elements.

Metadata registries frequently have a formal data element submission, approval and publishing approval process. Each data element should be accepted by a data stewardship team and reviewed before data elements are published. After publication change control processes should be used.

Metadata registries are frequently large and complex structures and require navigation, visualization and searching tools. Use of hierarchical viewing tools are frequently an essential part of a metadata registry system. Metadata publishing consists of making data element definitions and structures available to both people and other computer systems.

  • Dublin Core Metadata Registry [1]
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [2]
  • US Department of Defense Metadata Registry (requires sponsored registration) [3]
  • Cancer Data Standards Repository [4]
  • Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) [5]
  • National Information Exchange Model [6]
  • US Environmental Protection Agency - Environmental Data Registry [7]

In alphabetical order:

In alphabetical order:

Open Forums on Metadata Registries, in reverse chronological order:

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../m/e/t/Metadata_registry.html"
Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.