Attributes: Metadata, Tags, and Labels

You can use attributes to annotate (decorate) your files and trigger pipelines without changing the actual data in your files. There are three different attribute types:

Metadata
Tags
Labels

Each attribute is designed to be used differently. This table provides information describing the different attributes and their usage:

Attribute ->	Metadata	Tag	Label
Description	Immutable: Modifying the metadata of a file generates a new file version with a new `fileId`. Attached as native S3 metadata to the underlining S3 object	Immutable: Modifying the tags of a file generates a new file version with a new `fileId`. Attached as native S3 metadata to the underlining S3 object	Mutable: Modifying the labels of a file does not generate a new file version. Files cannot have two labels with the same `name:value` combination. Files can have two labels with the same name
Usage	Use to annotate the file with simple information that could be tracked.	Use to store data (for example, the name of a test event).	Use for temporary annotations, or to annotate more complex information. Note: Labels are not archived with TDP, so if you want something more permanent or trackable, consider using metadata or a tag instead.
Format	key:value pair Example: SignOff:False	String Example: ChromaTest099	Array of dictionary(name: a, value: b) Example: Status[Complete, Unprocessed, Pending]
Sizing	Metadata value: Up to 2 KB The limit of all metadata and tags associated with a single file is 2 KB. Limited to one key:value	Tag value: Up to 128 characters The limit of all metadata and tags associated with a single file is 2 KB. Limited to one value.	Label name: 128 characters Label value: 256 characters More than one value is allowed because a label is an array, and one field may store several values. Unlimited number of labels per file.
Characters Allowed	Keys can include only letters, numbers, spaces and selected symbols (`+`, `-`, or `_`) Values can include only letters, numbers, spaces and selected symbols (`+`, `-`, `.`, `_`, `/`, or `,`) Does not support empty string.	Tags can include only letters, numbers, spaces and selected symbols (`+`, `-`, `.`, `_` or `/`) Does not support empty string.	Names can include only letters, numbers, spaces and selected symbols (`+`, `-`, `.` or `_`) Values can include only letters, numbers, spaces and selected symbols (`+`, `-`, `.`, `_`, `/` or `,`) Does not support empty string.
Storage	Stored as key:value pair Stored as part of the S3 Object in the S3 Bucket	Stored as part of the S3 Object in the S3 Bucket.	Stored in the database Not stored as part of the S3 Object in the S3 Bucket Not archived with the Tetra Data Platform
Trigger Pipeline?	Yes	Yes	Yes

Attribute validation rules apply to all places where you can use metadata, tags, and labels:

Adding attributes to sources (for example, Tetra Agents)
Adding attributes to files
Using the Web API
Using the ts-sdk

To learn how to manage attributes from the Tetra Data Platform Attribute Management page, click here.