Manage your metadata directly from the Elementary Catalog, with no need to update code manually. This streamlines governance workflows, reduces manual effort, and improves visibility and consistency across your assets.

From a single interface, you can view and filter assets, edit metadata fields individually or in bulk, and even use AI to generate high-quality descriptions—saving time and enhancing data discoverability. All changes are version-controlled via pull requests to keep your dbt project in sync.

To get the most out of this feature, check out our Data Governance Best Practices guide.

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Overview

Managing metadata such as owners, tags, descriptions, and critical asset status is essential for effective data governance. With Elementary you can:

  • View all your assets and their metadata in a centralized table
  • Identify governance gaps and inconsistencies
  • Edit metadata fields individually or in bulk
  • Generate high-quality asset descriptions using AI
  • Create pull requests for metadata changes directly from the UI
  • Track pending changes awaiting approval

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Supported Metadata Fields

Elementary supports editing the following metadata fields:

  • Tags - Categorize and organize assets
  • Owners - Assign responsibility for assets
  • Descriptions - Provide context about asset purpose and usage
  • Critical Assets - Mark high-priority assets

Coming soon:

  • Subscribers - Add users who should be notified about changes
  • Custom Metadata Fields - Edit organization-specific metadata

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Editing Metadata

Elementary allows you to edit metadata for individual assets or in bulk, with changes reflected in your dbt project through pull requests.

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How to Edit Metadata

To edit metadata:

  1. In the Catalog page select any folder for getting into the assets Table
  2. Select the assets you want to modify
  3. Choose which metadata field to edit and click on the right field (Tags, Owners, Description, etc.)
  4. Make your changes in the editing wizard
  5. Review the changes summary
  6. Click “Submit Pull Request” to submit your changes

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Governance Dashboard (Coming soon)

The Governance Dashboard provides insights into your data governance structure, helping you identify gaps and inconsistencies at a glance.

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Dashboard Features

  • Tag Distribution Analysis - Visualize tag coverage across assets and identify areas needing better categorization
  • Ownership Coverage - Track asset ownership distribution and highlight resources requiring owner assignment
  • Description Status - Monitor assets with missing or incomplete descriptions to improve documentation
  • Critical Asset Tracking - Get an overview of your business-critical data assets and their governance status
  • Dynamic Filtering - Filter the Assets Table in real-time based on dashboard selections and metrics