YAML metadata, or YAML front matter, is a type of data that is placed at the beginning of a file, providing extra information about the content within. This metadata is written in YAML (a markup language, similar to HTML and XML) and appears as a block of code enclosed in triple-dashed lines (---). YAML metadata is used in many places, such as websites, Word documents, and even databases, and helps ensure that the data is organized and structured properly. By including metadata in a file, you can “tag” a document with details such as author name, the date, language, category and keywords. This is useful for many applications like search engine optimization or automatic collaboration between authors. The benefits of YAML metadata include page categorization, simplified document tracking, and reduced dependence on other forms of communication.