Difference between catalog and metadata?

From: Digital Puer <digital_puer_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:22:00 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <c4abc357-ff00-4929-883e-53331c3f1c49_at_p36g2000prn.googlegroups.com>

I'm doing a little research into database metadata for various products like DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL. I want to learn about where information on tables and views are stored.

What is the difference between the system catalog and metadata? Is one a superset of the other?

Which one of them contains logical and physical information on the tables and views (e.g. how they are partitioned, the schemas, etc.)?

Is there a SQL / ANSI standard on what information should be stored in the catalog / metadata? Received on Tue Jul 21 2009 - 19:22:00 CDT