PBCore structures its Metadata Elements in hierarchies and binds related elements inside of parent Containers. In a few cases, a Container holds Sub-Containers, which themselves hold the Metadata Elements. The name of each Container, Sub-Container, and Metadata Element shown in a Sample Metadata Record is an active hyperlink to a web page in the PBCore User Guide that explains and defines the nature of these individual PBCore components.

All PBCore metadata elements are thematically grouped into four classes: Intellectual Content, Intellectual Property, Instantiations, and Extensions. Learn more at our page about Content Classes in PBCore.

For a graphical view of the hierarchical structure of PBCore elements, visit our pages showing an Illustration of the Hierarchies and a discussion on Flat vs Hierarchical Relationships & Interdependencies.

Containers and Sub-Containers can be repeated if there are multiple instances of metadata descriptions. For example, if there are multiple renditions or media formats for a single asset, then the container pbcoreInstantiation (with its metadata elements) is repeated for each rendition; on the other hand, the Intellectual Content for the entire asset is only entered once within a single metadata record for the entire asset and all of its multiple renditions. Likewise, if an asset has descriptions for both Temporal Coverage and Spatial Coverage, then the container pbcoreCoverage is repeated in order to enter the keywords for each type of coverage.

Wherever there is a Container, it can be repeated with different values for the metadata elements it holds. Learn more at our page about repeating Element Containers in PBCore. We provide examples of repeating containers throughout our Sample PBCore Records.

Each metadata element in our sample metadata records is also marked by its obligation to use: Mandatory, Mandatory if Applicable, Recommended, and Optional. Learn more at our page about PBCore Elements Viewed by Obligation to Use.