Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the AP Computer Science Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

How is metadata typically defined?

Data that includes user comments and reviews.
Data about data.
Data that is compressed for faster access.
Data that is encrypted for security.

The correct answer is: Data about data.

Metadata is best defined as "data about data." This means that it provides information that describes other data, helping to organize, find, and understand data more effectively. For example, in the context of a digital image, metadata might include the resolution, the camera settings, the date and time the photo was taken, and the geographic location. This additional information enhances the value of the primary data by giving context and facilitating better management and retrieval. This definition distinguishes metadata from user-generated content like comments, which interprets or critiques the data but does not describe its inherent properties. Similarly, metadata is not simply data that is compressed or encrypted; while compression and encryption impact how data is stored and accessed, they don't add descriptive information that characterizes the data itself. Thus, defining metadata as "data about data" captures its essential role in information systems and data management.