Metadata is data about data. Data is basically the same thing as information, although it is often in a form that is easier for humans and/or computers to use and manipulate.
Major functions of computer filesystems are the storing of metadata about files and facilitating the locating and manipulation of files. The metadata about a file on a Unix-like operating system includes its file type (e.g., data file, directory, link), name, timestamps (i.e., dates of creation, last access and modification), location on the filesystem, size (in bytes), its physical location (i.e., the addresses of the blocks of storage containing the file’s data on a disk), ownership (usually the same as its creator), access permissions (i.e., which users are permitted to read, write and/or execute the file) and file type.
An inode is a data structure on a Unix-like operating system that stores all the metadata about a file except its name(s); the name(s) and the actual data of the file are stored elsewhere. A data structure is a way of storing information in a computer so that it can be used efficiently.
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