Which term refers to data about data's origin, quality, and lineage?

• A. Metadata
• B. Attribute
• C. Data dictionary
• D. Georeference

Answer: (A)

Metadata describes data's origin, quality, and lineage. It provides the contextual information about how the data were collected, when and by whom, the methods used, quality checks performed, and how the data have been transformed over time. This context is essential for evaluating reliability, deciding if the data are suitable for a given task, and for reproducibility. By contrast, an attribute is a property of a data element, a data dictionary lists definitions and data types for data fields, and a georeference ties data to specific coordinates on the Earth's surface. Thus, the term for data about data's origin, quality, and lineage is metadata.