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Also known as: Structural Metadata
System-level metadata describing data structures and operations, such as schemas, data types, lineage, storage, and processing logic.
DESCRIPTION
Technical metadata captures how data is physically and logically organized, including schemas, table definitions, file formats, partitions, and data types. It often includes lineage, job configurations, and operational metrics that explain processing. This metadata underpins data catalogs, impact analysis, and data quality monitoring. Automated harvesting from databases, ETL tools, and pipelines keeps metadata current. Standards and APIs help integrate heterogenous sources. Technical metadata complements business metadata to provide a full picture. Good stewardship ensures accuracy and accessibility.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
IBM Documentation
Technical metadata describes the structure and workings of data resources, including schemas, data types, and processing details.
Emphasizes structure and processing aspects of metadata.
Apache Atlas (Cloudera Docs)
Technical metadata captures system-level details such as data structures, storage, and lineage collected from integrated data platforms.
Highlights automated collection across platforms and lineage capture.
Collibra
Technical metadata provides information about the technical characteristics of data assets, like schemas, formats, and lineage.
Contrasts technical metadata with business and operational types.
RELATED TERMS
Operational Metadata Data Discovery Platform Data Schema Business Glossary Lineage Provenance Graph Metadata Management Data Stewardship Glossary
COMPETING TERMS
RELATIONS
- Broader: Metadata
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Metadata Management Data Management Data Governance Data Architecture
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Steward Data Governance Manager Data Architect Data Engineer Information Analyst
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Metadata
- Apache Atlas - Open metadata and governance
- OpenMetadata - Metadata platform and APIs
- ISO/IEC 11179 - Metadata registry standard
TOP QUESTIONS
Why is Technical Metadata important?
It enables discovery, lineage, and impact analysis, supporting governance and reliable analytics. Without it, change management and troubleshooting are difficult.
Category: Relevancy
What’s included in Technical Metadata?
Schemas, data types, formats, partitions, indexes, lineage, pipeline configurations, and operational stats like freshness or row counts.
Category: Definition
How do you collect Technical Metadata?
Use crawlers and connectors for databases, warehouses, ETL, and orchestration tools. Automate harvesting and schedule regular updates.
Category: Best practices
What is a common mistake with Technical Metadata?
Letting it drift out of date. Stale metadata erodes trust; integrate harvesting into CI/CD and data pipeline deployments.
Category: Mistakes
How does Technical Metadata relate to Business Metadata?
Technical metadata explains how data is stored and processed, while business metadata describes meaning, ownership, and usage context. Both are needed for trust.
Category: Misunderstanding
What standards apply to Technical Metadata?
ISO/IEC 11179 for registries and W3C vocabularies like DCAT support interoperability and cataloging.
Category: Example
How is Technical Metadata used in lineage?
It identifies source-to-target mappings, transformations, and runtime dependencies, enabling end-to-end lineage graphs.
Category: Example
What’s a hot topic around Technical Metadata?
Real-time metadata capture from streaming systems and compiling metadata into knowledge graphs with reasoning capabilities.
Category: Topic
How do I keep Technical Metadata trustworthy?
Automate harvesting, validate with quality checks, and assign stewardship to maintain accuracy and resolve gaps promptly.
Category: Best practices