TS ISO 23081-1

TS ISO 23081-1 addresses the principles that should underpin records management metadata. Its subject is not the record alone, but also the metadata that identifies, contextualises and helps govern that record so that reliability, findability and meaning can be preserved throughout its life cycle.

The role of metadata in records management

Records metadata is the information layer that supports a record’s identity, context, relationships, access conditions and management history. In general technical terms, this kind of metadata connects record creation, capture, classification, retention, access and disposition processes. This standard focuses on the principles for thinking about and managing that metadata, rather than prescribing a single software design or a one-size-fits-all implementation.

What the scope brings together

• Records and their metadata
• All processes that affect those records and metadata
• Any system in which the records and metadata reside
• Any organisation responsible for managing them

As a result, the document provides a common framework for designing consistent records management across different environments rather than defining one specific product or organisational model. In practice, it helps organisations build metadata structures that fit their workflows, preserve the meaning of records and support more systematic management decisions.