Which statement best describes metadata in the context of data discovery?

• A. Actual data values.
• B. Information about assets used to locate them.
• C. User access rights.
• D. Data encryption keys.

Answer: (B)

Metadata is data about data that helps you find and understand data assets. In data discovery, it describes where a dataset lives, what it’s called, its purpose, structure, provenance, and who owns it, so you can locate and assess it in a catalog or storage system. Because discovery hinges on being able to search by name, description, and location, information about assets used to locate them is the best fit. The actual data values are the content of the asset, not metadata. Access rights and encryption keys relate to security and governance rather than describing or locating the data asset.