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Taxonomies and metadata

Metadata and taxonomies are closely related, yet independent things. Metadata is data that describes other data and includes system-generated details. A taxonomy classifies the content according to an organizational scheme that includes relationships between the content. Taxonomies often define the list of values for metadata fields, but their use is not limited to this. Metadata can also exist independent of a taxonomy and serve various purposes. Together, metadata and taxonomies enable content to be used, distributed and searched in any number of ways.

The following screen capture illustrates a Component's Metadata tab

Screen capture showing metadata and taxonomy fields

The illustration shows both basic metadata and taxonomy fields:

  1. This box shows a simple metadata field that is not related to a taxonomy.
  2. This box shows three different metadata fields that are associated with a taxonomy, in this case, the same taxonomy. These taxonomy-based metadata fields can take a variety of different forms, all of which enable you to classify the item with Keywords (internal taxonomies) or Concepts (external taxonomies). For example, the field might be a simple text box that allows you to type and search, a check box or radio button list, or perhaps a tree view that shows the hierarchy of the taxonomy.