Supportsoft Glossary

Descriptive Data Enhancing Content Visibility

Metadata, or information about information, describes the content of digital objects to both humans and machines. This allows both groups to better understand how and why to interact with the object, as well as its context and structure. In addition to providing application programming interface (API) functionality, metadata allows the search engines to interactively build up their index of digital content.

Metadata allows search engines to operate more effectively in finding and presenting relevant results. For example, when a user searches for something online, the first thing he or she sees is the meta description summary of a search result. The better the meta description is written, the higher the site will rank on Google and the more likely it is to result in click-throughs to that site. In addition to providing the structural framework for content to be discovered and retrieved, metadata is also used for organising digital content.

Some larger content management systems make extensive use of metadata to allow for more complex operations such as filtering and categorising content, as well as to provide programmatic means of retrieving and displaying content. Without the proper use of metadata, digital content can become difficult to search, locate and navigate, ultimately reducing the utility of the content. Conversely, by providing a structured and clear set of guidelines for how content is to be displayed, metadata will ensure that content remains easily accessible, relevant and usable across multiple platforms and by multiple audiences.