Metadata
Metadata
When you compile a C# program, the compiler generates not only the executable code but
also metadata describing the types and members defined in your code.
The metadata includes information about all types defined within the assembly, such as
classes, interfaces, enums, and structs.
For each type, metadata specifies its name, namespace, base type (if any), and whether it is
public, private, internal, or nested within another type.
Members (Fields, Properties, Methods):
Metadata provides details about the members (fields, properties, methods) defined within
each type.
For fields, metadata includes information such as name, type, access modifiers, and whether
it is static or instance.
For properties, metadata includes similar information as fields, along with details about
accessors (getters and setters) if defined.
For methods, metadata specifies information such as name, return type, parameter types,
access modifiers, whether it is static or instance, and whether it is virtual, abstract, or
override.
Inheritance:
Metadata captures the inheritance hierarchy among types within the assembly.
It includes information about base types (classes or interfaces) from which a type derives, as
well as interfaces implemented by the type.
Metadata also indicates whether a method overrides a base method or implements an
interface method.
Access Modifiers:
Access modifiers specify the accessibility of types and members within the assembly.
Metadata records whether a type or member is public, private, protected, internal, or
protected internal.
This information controls which parts of the codebase can access or modify the type or
member.
Attributes:
Attributes provide additional metadata attached to types and members to convey specialized
information or behavior.
Metadata includes details about attributes applied to types and members, such as their
names, parameters, and values.
Attributes can affect how the type or member behaves at runtime or how it is treated by tools
and frameworks.
Other Relevant Information:
Business Metadata:
Business metadata provides detailed information about the contents of a dataset from a
business perspective.
It includes information such as the category or domain of the data (e.g., customer data, sales
data, financial data).
Owner details specify who is responsible for managing or maintaining the data.
Keywords or subject matter tags help describe the data's content, making it easier to search
and understand.
Business metadata is essential for business users, analysts, and stakeholders to
comprehend the meaning and context of the data, enabling informed decision-making and
effective data governance.
Technical Metadata:
Technical metadata comprises raw technical details about a dataset, focusing on its
structure, format, and technical characteristics.
It includes information like the file type (e.g., CSV, XML, JSON), size (in bytes or kilobytes),
and creation date.
For data stored in databases, technical metadata may include details about the database
schema, table names, column names, data types, and constraints.
Technical metadata provides insights into the physical aspects of the data, aiding data
administrators, developers, and IT professionals in managing, processing, and integrating
data across different systems and platforms.
Operational Metadata:
Operational metadata helps monitor and optimize data workflows, troubleshoot issues,
ensure data quality and compliance, and provide insights into the efficiency and
effectiveness of data operations.
By capturing and managing these different types of metadata, organizations can enhance
data governance, improve data quality, foster collaboration between business and IT teams,
and derive greater value from their data assets. Effective metadata management practices
enable organizations to achieve better data visibility, accessibility, and usability, ultimately
supporting their business objectives and strategic initiatives.
using System;: This line is a directive to include the System namespace, which contains
fundamental classes and base types that define commonly-used value and reference data
types, events and event handlers, interfaces, attributes, and processing exceptions.
public class MyApp: This line defines a new class named MyApp. Classes in C# are used to
define objects that encapsulate data and behavior.
public static int Main(): This line defines a method named Main. In C#, Main is the entry point
of a C# console application. It is a static method that returns an integer, usually indicating the
exit code of the application. The static keyword means that this method belongs to the class
itself rather than an instance of the class.
{: This curly brace marks the beginning of the body of the Main method.
Console.WriteLine("Required Message");: This line uses the Console.WriteLine method to
output the string "Required Message" to the console. Console is a class in the System
namespace that provides methods for interacting with the console.
return 0;: This line is the return statement of the Main method, indicating that the method has
finished execution and returning an exit code of 0. An exit code of 0 typically indicates
successful completion of the program.
}: This curly brace marks the end of the body of the Main method.
}: This curly brace marks the end of the MyApp class definition.
Overall, the code defines a simple C# console application with a Main method that outputs a
message to the console and returns an exit code of 0. This code can be compiled and
executed as a console application in a C# development environment.
using System;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
int num1 = 5;
int num2 = 3;
using System;: This line imports the System namespace, providing access to basic C#
functionalities.
static void Main(): Entry point of the program. It's a static method, meaning it belongs to the
class itself and not to an instance of the class.
int num1 = 5; and int num2 = 3;: Predefines two numbers, num1 and num2, with the values 5
and 3, respectively.
int sum = num1 + num2;: Calculates the sum of num1 and num2 and stores it in the variable
sum.
Console.WriteLine($"The sum of {num1} and {num2} is: {sum}");: Outputs the sum of the two
predefined numbers to the console using string interpolation.
This code calculates the sum of two predefined numbers and then displays the result.