What best defines the term metadata?

Metadata plays a crucial role in various fields, especially in data management and digital forensics. It refers to data that provides information about other data, serving as a descriptor for the primary content. This can include details such as the creation date of a file, the author, file size, and modification history. Essentially, metadata facilitates the organization, identification, and management of the underlying data.

For example, in a digital photograph, the metadata would include the camera settings used to take the picture, the location where it was taken, and the date and time of capture. This additional information not only enhances understanding but also assists in sorting and retrieving files efficiently.

The other options focus on specific elements of data management. A file header is a structured section at the beginning of a file that contains information about the file itself but does not encompass the broader concept of metadata. Data stored in the registry refers to a specific set of configuration settings on a computer and is not representative of all data descriptions. Lastly, the bytes within a file pertain to the content itself rather than to any descriptive features about that content. Thus, the most accurate definition of metadata is indeed data that describes data.