What is a Data Catalog?

Simply put, a data catalog is an organized inventory of data assets in theorganization. It uses metadata to help organizations manage their data. It alsohelps data professionals collect, organize, access, and enrich metadata to supportdata discovery and governance. Discover OCI Data Catalog Data Catalog Definition and AnalogyWe gave a short definition of a data catalog above, as something that uses metadata tohelp organizations manage their data. But let’s expand upon that with the analogy of alibrary.When you go to a library and you need to find a book, you use their catalog to discoverwhether the book is there, which edition it is, where it’s located, adescription—everything you need so that you can decide whether you want it, and if youdo, how to go and find it.That’s what many object stores, databases, and data warehouses offer today.But now, think back to the analogy of that library and the catalog. And now expand thepower of that catalog to cover every library in the country. Ima...