Metadata is structured, often schema-flexible information attached to a resource or data model that describes and characterizes it, such as its author, creation date, format, tags, or other custom attributes stored alongside the core fields. It allows users, applications, and services to search, identify, organize, and interpret resources without altering their underlying data; see the data models documentation at https://namazustudios.com/docs/general-concepts/data-models/ for how metadata fits into the broader model structure.