Data Dictionary
A technical reference documenting the structural facts about a data asset: field names, data types, nullability, source system, and update frequency. Answers "what is this field, technically." Does not answer "what does this business term mean," which is the business glossary's job.
Defined in 3 GAGE programs, which carry 3 distinct definitions of it. The wording above is taught in Certified AI Data Governance Professional (CADGP).
How each discipline defines it
The same term does different work depending on who is using it. These are the definitions as each program teaches them, unedited.
A technical reference documenting the structural facts about a data asset: field names, data types, nullability, source system, and update frequency. Answers "what is this field, technically." Does not answer "what does this business term mean," which is the business glossary's job.
A document defining every data field in a system: its name, type, allowed values, format standard, and purpose; essential for consistent data entry across a team.
The vendor's own documentation of the objects a system holds, their fields and the relationships between them. The primary source for an architecture question.
Where it is taught
The exact lessons this term appears in. The first module of every program is free with a free account.
- Data Readiness for Small Operations · Digital Foundations, Certified AI Practitioner: Workplace Foundations
- The business glossary fight: one company, one definition of customer, finally · The Catalog That Lives, Certified AI Data Governance Professional (CADGP)
- Governance, risk and compliance platform architecture and landscape · Governance, Risk and Compliance Technology, Automation, and Evidence Engineering, Certified Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance Professional (CEGP)
Where it shows up at work
A definition is where Data Dictionary starts. The lessons above teach it inside the competencies below, which are what job descriptions ask for and what the GAGE credential records. Every link here is drawn from the same careers map that builds a role's readiness check.
Establishes ownership, stewardship, councils, decision rights and issue workflows so data has a named owner and a defined meaning.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Roles that hire for it
Each role page shows the full competency set, what the seat decides, and a readiness check against your own evidence.
- Chief Data Officer, data leadership editionneeds it at depth
- Data Governance Leadneeds it at depth · 2 open postings this week
How job descriptions say it
Postings rarely use the textbook word. These are the phrases the careers map reads as asking for the competencies above.
Where the frameworks place it: DAMA-DMBOK; ISO/IEC 42001 data controls.
One interview question about it
Set up data stewardship for an organization whose models train on its own data. Who owns what, and how do decisions get made?
Asked of candidates for data governance operating model and stewardship. Answering it in your own words is exactly how a GAGE topic is passed, and the credential records the pass where an employer can check it.
If you come from another field
Some backgrounds already carry this competency, and the readiness check gives credit for it.
- Data analysis, stewardship and business intelligence carries it as a claim to back up: Stewardship and glossary ownership are usually in the role.
Terms it appears with
Not an alphabetical neighbourhood: these are the terms taught in the same lessons, ranked by how often they appear together.