Which metadata keeps records of data operations, such as audit trails?

The correct answer pertains to the type of metadata involved in maintaining records of data operations, specifically audit trails, which are crucial for tracking changes and ensuring data integrity. Embedded metadata is designed to capture details that occur within the data itself, including operational information. This can encompass audit trails, which track who accessed or modified data and when those changes were made.

On the other hand, administrative metadata typically includes information related to the management of data (like provenance and access controls), while business metadata provides context and meaning to the data (such as definitions and business rules). Context metadata relates to the context in which data is created or used, often describing the circumstances behind data collection or data use cases. These types of metadata do not focus specifically on operational records or audit trails in the same way that embedded metadata does.