Which of the following is an example of system metadata?

System metadata refers to information that describes the structure, management, and organization of data within a file system. It is essential for the functioning of the file system and plays a crucial role in how data is stored, retrieved, and managed.

FAT (File Allocation Table) Tables are an excellent example of system metadata. They are used in file systems to keep track of where files are stored on a disk. The FAT table provides information about the allocation of disk space, which includes details on file locations and sizes, thus helping the operating system manage and locate files efficiently.

In contrast, the EXIF header, while it contains metadata about image files (like camera settings and date taken), is specific to the file’s content rather than the file system itself. Document metadata refers to descriptive attributes of documents, such as author and creation date, which pertain more to the content level. The file content itself is the actual data within a file, not metadata.

Thus, selecting the FAT Tables as an example highlights their role in file management and system organization, making it an ideal representation of system metadata.