Structure and Use of Metadata

Although most developers do not need to know the implementation details of metadata, some might want a deeper understanding. This section provides an overview of how metadata is stored in a .NET Framework portable executable (PE) file and an explanation of metadata's role in managed execution. You do not need to read this section to understand .NET programming or how to use attributes.

In This Section

• Metadata and the PE File Structure
  Describes how metadata is stored separately from Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) in a PE file.

• Run-Time Use of Metadata
  Demonstrates the use of metadata at run time with a code example.

Related Sections

• Metadata and Self-Describing Components
  Explains the common language runtime's mechanism for describing a type and storing that information with the type itself.