1. 数据：
术语数据源自拉丁语“Datum”，指的是“给定的东西”。数据是原始的、无组织的事实，如果没有适当的处理和组织它们以检索一些信息以备将来使用，它们就毫无用处。数据是一组可以操作、参考或分析的事实和统计数据。它可以只是一条信息、一份杂货清单或观察、一个故事或对某个场景的描述。
2. 元数据：
元数据是关于数据的数据。元数据显示有关数据的基本信息，可以更轻松地查找和处理特定数据实例。元数据提高了从大量数据中搜索和操作数据的准确性。它有助于从数据包中大量获取所需的一些数据，元数据提供有关原始数据组织的信息。它可以手动创建或通过自动信息处理创建。手动处理的元数据比自动信息处理的元数据更准确，因为自动信息处理的元数据仅包含文件名、大小、扩展名、创建时间和有关谁创建文件的信息。
数据和元数据的区别：
| S.NO. | Factors | Data | Metadata |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Concept | Data is any sort of information which is stored in computer memory. This information can later be used for a website, an application or can be used in future. | Metadata describes relevant information about the data. |
| 2. | Information | Data may or may not be informative. | Metadata is always informative. |
| 3. | Processing | Data may or may not have been processed. | It is always a processed data. |
| 4. | Storage | In DBMS data is stored as a file either navigational or hierarchial form. | It is stored in data dictionary. |
| 5. | Description | In DBMS data refers to all the single items that are stored in a database either individually or as a set. | Metadata refers to name of attributes, their types, user constraints, integrity information and storage information. |
| 6. | Example | If you create a notepad file, then the content of that document is data. | if you create a notepad file the name of the file, storage description, type of file, size of file all becomes metadata of your file. |