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Metadata
Succinctly put, metadata is information about information. Metadata describes information characteristics such as the content, quality and condition of information. In many respects, the use and purpose of metadata can be compared to cataloguing information, as is being done libraries, museums and archives.
Metadata is machine-understandable information for the Web. Introducing standards for metadata improves the findability and understandability of information for visitors.
Why is it important to use Metadata?
The use of metadata is important to improve the findability, compatibility and 'shelf life' of information.
- Metadata protects knowledge capital, since it provides information about the origin and quality of information.
- Metadata provides standardisation: because of this it is easier to find and exchange related (relevant) information.
- Metadata standards simplify administration and improve the understanding of information.
Metadata applications
- Archiving and documentation.
- Administrative audit.
- Enhanced findability of information (for external search engines).
- Compatibility of information (for instance, between websites and archives).
- Enhanced coherence between information on the websites of similar organisations; for instance, in the Netherlands metadata is being used to create a single virtual government on the web, without affecting the autonomous authority of the individual organisations.
Dublin Core metadata
A large number of standards has been developed to describe electronic sources. One standard with a relatively simple structure, which is accepted and used worldwide, is the Dublin Core standard. 
Implementation of metadata
For government sites, when editors and webmasters implement metadata it may be a problem that they have as yet little experience with the use of metadata. Moreover, the resources needed are not readily available.
