Metadata
Description
Metadata acts as the connective tissue of intelligent content. It defines what a piece of content is, how it relates to other content and how it should be used. Without metadata, even the most valuable information becomes invisible or isolated.
There are three main types of metadata: descriptive metadata (e.g., title, subject), structural metadata (e.g., how content components are organized) and administrative metadata (e.g., permissions, version history). In practice, metadata underpins how modern content systems operate. It allows content to be reused across channels, localized efficiently and retrieved instantly. It also plays a crucial role in regulatory compliance and quality assurance, helping organizations track creation, usage and governance. When combined with Semantic AI and knowledge graphs, metadata evolves beyond labels – it becomes the framework that gives content context, consistency and intelligence.
Example use cases
- Classification: Tag and organize assets for easy retrieval and reuse.
- Access: Set permissions, expiry dates or visibility rules for specific content.
- Localization: Enable automated routing and language metadata for translation.
- Versioning: Record who created, updated or approved a document.
- Compliance: Maintain structured records for industry or legal standards.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
At RWS, metadata is what makes content intelligent. It powers how Tridion connects, manages and delivers structured content at scale – ensuring every component is discoverable, reusable and ready for any channel.
Our approach combines human expertise with intelligent automation to ensure metadata is accurate, consistent and strategically applied. Integrated with Semantic AI and knowledge graphs, metadata becomes more than a tag – it becomes the foundation for smart, connected content that supports personalization, localization and analytics.