Finding and understanding the right information is essential in large and mission-critical application systems. Thus, the role of standards for naming and identification, storing and indexing, data and metadata representation languages in Enterprise SOA can not be underestimated. There are three types of Metadata Infrastructure Standards:

Directory/Registry Standards allow for the registration and discovery of information entities in general or services in particular. Examples include ISO 11179, ONS and UDDI.

Repository Standards provide a way to store and programmatically retrieve information entities. Examples include EPCIS, ISO 11179 and MOF.

Metadata Representation provides rules on how to represent, name and design information entities. Examples include CWM, EMF, MOF/XMI/JMI, WS-Metadata Exchange, XML NDR, XML Schema and ISO 11179