---
title: "what is meta data in MSIL?"  
description: "what is meta data in MSIL?"  
author: "Rajesh Goswami"  
published: 2010-10-20  
updated: 2020-09-23  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/59/what-is-meta-data-in-msil  
category: "assembly"  
tags: ["assembly"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# what is meta data in MSIL?

When a compiler produces MSIL, it also produces metadata. Metadata describes the types in your code, including the definition of each type, the signatures of each type's members, the members that your code references, and other data that the runtime uses at execution time. The MSIL and metadata are contained in a portable executable (PE) file that is based on and extends the published Microsoft PE and common object file format (COFF) used historically for executable content. This file format, which accommodates MSIL or native code as well as metadata, enables the operating system to recognize common language runtime images. The presence of metadata in the file along with the MSIL enables your code to describe itself, which means that there is no need for type libraries or Interface Definition Language (IDL). The runtime locates and extracts the metadata from the file as needed during execution.\
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## Answers

### Answer by hanmandlu vasani

Metadata is binary information describing your program that is stored either in a common language runtime portable executable (PE) file or in memory. \
When you compile your code into a PE file, metadata is inserted into one portion of the file, and your code is converted to Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) and inserted into another portion of the file.\
When a compiler produces MSIL, it also produces Metadata\

### Answer by Pushpendra Singh

When a compiler produces MSIL, it also produces metadata. Metadata describes the types in your code, including the definition of each type, the signatures of each type's members, the members that your code references, and other data that the runtime uses at execution time. The MSIL and metadata are contained in a portable executable (PE) file that is based on and extends the published Microsoft PE and common object file format (COFF) used historically for executable content. This file format, which accommodates MSIL or native code as well as metadata, enables the operating system to recognize common language runtime images. The presence of metadata in the file along with the MSIL enables your code to describe itself, which means that there is no need for type libraries or Interface Definition Language (IDL). The runtime locates and extracts the metadata from the file as needed during execution.\
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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/59/what-is-meta-data-in-msil

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