What is the primary purpose of metadata in document management?

The primary purpose of metadata in document management is indeed to help categorize and manage information. Metadata serves as data about data, providing essential details that describe a document's content, context, structure, and other characteristics. This includes information such as the author, creation date, modification history, and keywords, which assists users in organizing, retrieving, and managing documents effectively.

By utilizing metadata, organizations can streamline the search process, allowing users to filter and find relevant documents based on specific attributes. This functionality enhances efficiency in document management systems and supports better governance of information, compliance with records management policies, and improved collaboration among users.

While other options involve aspects related to document handling, such as changing content, encrypting data, or enhancing layout, they do not align with the core function of metadata as it pertains to document categorization and information management.