Descriptive metadata describes items/content for search and discovery contexts -- it helps connect users to resources, and provides important context about a resource once it is discovered. This type of metadata drives the ability to search, browse, sort, and filter information.

Descriptive metadata may include elements such as title, description, author, and keywords. It is the most common type of metadata, familiar to most digital content creators.

Emory's Core Metadata guidelines provide a recommended set of broadly applicable descriptive elements with mappings to major metadata standards.