2.11. Source and View Metadata

In addition to the distinction between business and technical metadata, it is necessary to know the difference between Source Metadata and View Metadata.

Source and View metadata refers to what the metadata represents, not its content.

Source Metadata directly represents metadata for an enterprise information system and captures exactly where and how the data is maintained. Source Metadata sounds similar to technical metadata, but Source Metadata can contain both technical and business metadata. When you model Source Metadata, you are modeling the data that your enterprise information systems contain.

View Metadata, on the other hand, represent tailored views that transform the Source Metadata into the terminology and domain of different applications. View Metadata, too, can contain both technical and business metadata. When you model View Metadata, you are modeling the data as your applications (and your enterprise) ultimately use it.