Metadata : Get To Know Your Dataset

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Price tags provide metadata about the product they are attached to.


The "meta-" part of metadata means "beyond" or "transcending."

So, metadata is like extra information that goes beyond the main data.

For example, think about your name, personality type, height, and weight. 

These are all things that help people know more about you.

Here's an example some of my metadata:

Name: Toni-Marie Noel
Personality Type: ENTJ
Height: 5 feet 6 inches (167.64 cm)
Weight: 129 pounds (58.51 kg)
Favorite Pastry: Currants Roll 


I first heard about metadata at work, and it's becoming a really important aspect of my role.

But why is metadata important in the first place?

Searchability

Imagine searching for George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' in a library filled with books lacking labels on their covers. A nightmare, I know! That's why I actually judge books by their cover.

Search Engine Optimization 

Utilizing the correct keywords can lead to a staggering 75% of clicks going to websites on the first page of Google's search results for a given topic, while websites on the second page receive just around 6% of clicks.

Version Control

Metadata is the document that keeps track of who made what changes and when, preventing chaos. It's like having a time-traveling notebook to keep your group work on the same page. 

Personalization 

Ever wondered why YouTube feels like your personal stalker, always recommending videos from creators you've watched before? 

You scroll and keeps whispering, "Hey, remember that ASMR video you loved? Here's another one!"


Resources 

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