Metadata describe information. Metadata are used for a lot of reasons. On this site metadata are used to help readers find information. Creating metadata is like adding signposts:

• There are people, experts, who know where to find useful information
• These experts describe where to look for this useful information

Metadata is information that describes where to find useful information. Therefore, metadata can be compared very well to signposts: metadata tell you where to look.

Metadata consist of two parts:

1. a description of the information (e.g. the name of the hyperlink)
2. a reference to where the information resides (e.g. the url)

In the Netherlands, Startkabel has metadata to provide access to information that is useful for most people.

The Open Directory Project is run by editors who voluntarily organize useful information on the internet.

Google Web Directory and Yahoo are similar to the Open Directory Project.

Amazon uses metadata to provide access to their books

Recipe Archives provides access to 3678 recipes: