Metadata Repositories: Data Dictionary vs. Data Inventory vs. Data Catalog

Data dictionaries, inventories, and catalogs are terms often used interchangeably. While they are all critical to effective data management systems, they are not the same. What are the differences between these structures and their functions? What is a data inventory? What is a data dictionary? What is a data catalog? Data Inventory vs. Data Dictionary Data Catalog vs. Data Inventory In each case, we include guidelines for building the structure along with examples of its use. We also unpack when each of these structures is necessary as well as the critical factors involved in effective data governance.What Is a Data Inventory?A data inventory is a centralized metadata collection, indicating all of the datasets an organization collects and maintains. This document (or collection of documents) pinpoints each dataset's location and the type of data it contains. On a practical level, this inventory allows data analysts to determine what data is available to them and how it is accessed. Da...