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In order to be useful, metadata needs to be standardized. This includes agreeing on language, spelling, date format, etc. If no standard is used, it can be very difficult to compare data sets.
A key component of metadata is the schema. Metadata schema outline the overall structure for the metadata. A metadata scheme describes how the metadata is set up, and usually addresses standards for common components of metadata like dates, names, and places. There are also discipline-specific schemas used to address special elements specific to or needed by a given discipline.