2. Metadata records
2.1. Embedded in a digital object
- Metadata embedded in webpages
Note: In many websites, metadata records are embedded in the source code of a webpage. Users usually will not see the metadata when they access and browse a website unless they choose to view the source code.
In the following examples, please choose View: Source from the browser.
- Metadata embedded in digital images
Note: Some image software allows metadata records about an image to be recorded and attached in the image. When an image is viewed from the software application, it looks as if a record is embedded in the digital image. Values in some elements are automatically captured by the software while others are controlled by metadata creators.
2.2. Metadata records displayed from databases
Note: Bibliographic databases, digital collections, and digital repositories store metadata records in databases and display the records with a more user-friendly interface. The following examples show how a record could be presented to users and how it is actually encoded or stored in a database.
- Library bibliographic catalogs
- Digital collections
- Digital repositories
- Examples from the National Science Digital Library (NSDL)
- The same ADL record displayed at the NSDL-- cached PDF file: metadata
record
- To see other examples in NSDL:
- www.nsdl.org => type
your search term, for example, "planets Mars" =>
click on "more info ..." at the item you select.
- Example from American Memory, Historical Collections from the National
Digital Library
2.3. Sample records provided by metadata standards or guidelines
Note: Metadata standards usually provide the best practice guides in their specifications. The examples provided focus on the contents rather than the formats. It ensures that metadata elements, structure, and value spaces specified by a standard are correctly understood and controlled when applied to real situations. It is not their intention to provide format guidelines as for how a record should be encoded or displayed.
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