What is the purpose of a data catalog/metadata in data governance?

• A. A repository of network configurations.
• B. A repository of metadata describing data assets to support discovery and governance.
• C. A tool for data erasure.
• D. A system to manage software licenses.

Answer: (B)

In data governance, metadata and a data catalog serve as a central index of data assets, making them understandable and governable. By storing metadata about each data asset—descriptions, definitions, schemas, data types, lineage, quality rules, owners, access policies, and sensitivity classifications—the catalog helps people quickly discover what data exists, where it came from, and how it should be used. This visibility supports both usability and control: analysts can find the right datasets for their work, while data stewards and security teams enforce who can access what, how data should be governed, and how quality and compliance requirements are met.

For example, a marketing dataset might appear in the catalog with its description, the authoritative source, ownership, data sensitivity, and any privacy constraints. A user can locate it, understand its context, know the responsible party, and see any data quality notes or usage restrictions before requesting access or integrating it into analyses.

Not about network configurations, data erasure, or software licenses, these other options miss the core purpose of cataloging data assets to enable discovery and governance.