# Metadata

> Descriptive data about a system's structure, capabilities, or content, consumed to drive behavior.

Record: `lexicon:metadata`
Kind: artifact
Layer: [Structural Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/structural-core.md)
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon#lexicon-metadata

Listed in [Lexicon terms](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/lexicon.md), after [Cost](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/cost.md) and before [Discovery](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/discovery.md).

## Category

- [Core Vocabulary](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon-category/core-vocabulary.md)

## Required by

- [Runtime Discovery](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/runtime-discovery.md)
- [Self-Describing Architecture](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/self-describing-architecture.md)
- [Self-Describing API](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/self-describing-api.md)

## Linked from

- [Runtime Discovery / Dynamic Binding](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-runtime-discovery-dynamic-binding.md)
- [Metadata / Self-Description / Declarative Systems](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-metadata-self-description-declarative-systems.md)
- [Infrastructure Concerns](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon/lexicon-category-infrastructure-concerns.md)