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Computer Security Resource Center

Computer Security Resource Center

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    Glossary
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metadata

Definition(s):

  Information describing the characteristics of data including, for example, structural metadata describing data structures (e.g., data format, syntax, and semantics) and descriptive metadata describing data contents (e.g., information security labels).
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-150 under Metadata from NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4
CNSSI 4009-2015 [Superseded] from NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4
NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 [Superseded] under Metadata

  Data about data. For filesystems, metadata is data that provides information about a file’s contents.
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-86 under Metadata

  The information associated with a key that describes its specific characteristics, constraints, acceptable uses, ownership, etc. Sometimes called the key's attributes.
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-57 Part 2 Rev.1 under Metadata

  The information associated with a key that describes its specific characteristics, constraints, acceptable uses, ownership, etc.; sometimes called the key's attributes.
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-175B Rev. 1 under Metadata

  The information associated with a key that describes its specific characteristics, constraints, acceptable uses, ownership, etc.; sometimes called the key’s attributes.
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 5 under Metadata

  Information that describes the characteristics of data, including structural metadata that describes data structures (i.e., data format, syntax, semantics) and descriptive metadata that describes data contents (i.e., security labels).
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5

  Information describing the characteristics of data. This may include, for example, structural metadata describing data structures (i.e., data format, syntax, semantics) and descriptive metadata describing data contents
Source(s):
NIST Privacy Framework Version 1.0 under Metadata from NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 - Adapted

  Information used to describe specific characteristics, constraints, acceptable uses and parameters of another data item (e.g., a cryptographic key).
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 3 [Superseded] under Metadata
NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 4 [Superseded] under Metadata