Data Dictionaries

A collection of metadata that describes structure, organization, and content of a databse or dataset. It is a centralized repository that contains information about the data elements, their relationships, and the rules governing their use.

A data dictionary includes information such as:

• Data element definitions : descriptions of each data element including its name, data type, length, and format
• Data relationships: descriptions of how data elements are related to each other, such as parent-child relationships or associations between tables.
• Data constraints: rules that govern the values that can be stores in a data element, such as valid ranges and formats
• Business rules: descriptions of the policies and procedures that govern the use of the data, such as data validation rules or calculation formulas.
• Data lineage: information about origin, history, and ownership of data.

Data Dictionaries are essential in data management because they provide a common understanding of data among stakeholders, facilitate data sharing and integration, and support data quality and governance initiatives.