About Metadata

Metadata is data about data. NetForum uses a collection of metadata tables to dynamically create web content. The metadata tables can also be used in queries.

In the NetForum database, all tables that begin with md_ are metadata tables.

Example:

There is no web page designed only to display an Individual Profile page (such as IndividualProfile.aspx). When you view an Individual Profile page, the web page you are viewing is the DynamicProfile.aspx page. The DynamicProfile.aspx page queries the metadata, and the metadata determines where each label, box, button, and hyperlink is placed on the page. The metadata also determines the page style, what items are listed in the page's drop-down lists, the tab order on the page, and how to validate data that is entered on the page.