Metadata is documentation about data. It provides information about the content, condition and characteristics of a dataset which helps with:

• Data discovery
  
  Informs potential users what data resources are available. Our catalogue has search tools for this purpose.
• Evaluation
  
  Informs potential users of the data whether the selected resource meets their requirements by, for example, describing where and when and how data where collected.
• Use
  
  Provides information to assist users to understand, interpret and re-use data.

The EIDC uses metadata standards (GEMINI) to provide common terms, definitions, and structure to and ensure consistency in our dataset documentation.