Which term refers to the data that assists in identifying data properties and usage?

The term that refers to the data that assists in identifying data properties and usage is metadata. Metadata serves as descriptive information about other data, enabling users to understand the content, context, structure, and other relevant characteristics of the data set. It plays a crucial role in data management by providing insights on how the data can be used, its origin, and its relationship to other data.

In practice, metadata can include information such as data types, sizes, and the relationships between different pieces of data. It can also encompass details about how often the data is updated, who has access to it, and what processes the data undergoes. This contextual information is invaluable for data governance, data integration, and overall data quality management.

The other terms listed do not encapsulate this concept as directly. A data dictionary is a repository that primarily provides definitions of data elements rather than the broader range of properties and usage contexts found in metadata. Node configuration pertains specifically to the setup and arrangement of nodes in a computing environment, while virtual storage relates to a data storage mechanism and does not inherently provide insights into data properties or usage.