Metadata Standards vs. Metadata Specifications
Some confusion exists about the use of the words standardA set of documented rules which define the creation of metadata by providing a combination of terminology (vocabularies), syntactical rules, format rules, and other requirements. Metadata standards are approved, published and governed by a formal body or organization with broad community-based representation (international or national). Related Guide and specification when applied to metadataData about data. Metadata provides a context for research findings, ideally in a machine-readable format. It enables discovery of data via an electronic interface, and correct use and attribution of findings. Related Guide. On the MMIMarine Metadata Interoperability site, we maintain the following distinction:
A metadata standard is a set of rules that define the creation of metadata. These rules are formally usually expressed in a document that outlines acceptable usage of the elements described within the standard. Documentation of these elements typically includes things such as name, definition, and structure. These rules also have formal approval, publishing, and governance procedures, as established by a formal body or organization with broad community-based representation.
A metadata specification is any description of how to store metadata. A specification can be developed and implemented by any level of an organization. A specification does not need formal documentation, nor does it need broad community-based approval. There may or may not be a formal governance procedure for a specification. Governance is not required. If it does have governance, it is often at a local or even an individual level.
Specifically, all standards are specificationsAny description of how to store metadata. Specifications have no limitations on the level of required documentation and no requirement for formal approval, publishing or governance by a broad community-based organization. Related Guide, but not all specifications are standards. Because a standard is governed by a large community of stakeholders and is well documented, published, and governed, it promotes interoperabilityThe ability of two or more information systems to exchange metadata with minimal loss of information. Related Guide between organizations that use the standard and, therefore, provides greater valueMetadata values are the content connected to metadata labels in a metadata element. For example, if the metadata label is "date", the metadata value could be "May 13, 2007". Related Guide to the international community.