Data Management Glossary
Header Metadata
Header metadata is the term used for information that is included in the header section of a document, web page, or data file that provides metadata (data about data). The definition and content of header metadata depend on the context in which it is used.
Header Metadata Examples
1. Web Page (HTML)
In HTML documents, header metadata is placed inside the <head> element and includes tags that provide information about the web page to browsers, search engines, and other services.
HTML Example:
<head>
<title>Example Page</title>
<meta charset=”UTF-8″>
<meta name=”description” content=”An example of header metadata.”>
<meta name=”keywords” content=”HTML, metadata, header”>
<meta name=”author” content=”Jane Doe”>
<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″>
</head>
2. HTTP Headers
In HTTP communications, headers include metadata about the request or response.
HTTP Example:
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Length: 348
Date: Wed, 29 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT
3. File Formats (e.g., Images, PDFs, Audio)
Many file formats include a metadata header section that contains information like author, creation date, software used, etc.
File Format Example (EXIF metadata in images):
* Camera model
* Exposure time
* Date taken
* GPS coordinates
4. Programming (e.g., JSON, XML, or API requests)
Headers may carry metadata like content type, authorization tokens, etc.
Programming Example (API call):
Authorization: Bearer <token>
Content-Type: application/json
User-Agent: MyApp/1.0
Header Metadata: Why is it Important?
Header metadata is any metadata placed in the header portion of a file, message, or document to describe, control, or facilitate processing of the main content. It varies by context (web, HTTP, file formats, etc.) but generally helps identify, describe, and manage the content. Header metadata plays a critical role in how data is interpreted, displayed, and processed across different systems and contexts.
