Data Dictionary and Metadata

Data Dictionary and Metadata

Data Dictionary and Metadata

Data Dictionary and Metadata

When implementing a storage manager it includes many components and part of the physical system there is something called a data dictionary. A data dictionary stores metadata which has the structure of the database, using a schema which is the overall design of the database. Data dictionaries are not accessible by a regular user, usually a database administrator that has the proper access to manipulate and change the database. A database system is used to update the data dictionary which is a special type of table (WhatIs.com, 2005). The data dictionary has a description of all the data items in the model, so that others can look to them for checking their status. When looking up the data dictionary it allows you to verify the status of the data and how it works in the current model. The simplest term for what the data is, data about data, and metadata contains everything about what the data is, like its characteristics. Metadata is very useful and it helps all programmers and database administrators or whoever has proper access to view the metadata. Metadata keeps the history of the data for later access and understanding, it allows programmers or database administrator whether new or a veteran to the current model to verify or see how the data is currently setup. Metadata can answer the questions of who, what, where, why, and how about the data (MCPER, 2004). There are a few reasons why data dictionary and metadata is similar. One is that the data dictionary is the metadata, without the data dictionary you don’t get the metadata. Data dictionary and metadata are part of the data model and structure of the database. Also programming languages use some type of statements and uses it as an output and some of the outputs are the data dictionary and metadata.

References

MPCER. (2004). What is Metadata? Archived at...