Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining metadata from multiple information sources in real time are described. According to one aspect, the method includes receiving a user request pertaining to one or more of source metadata objects residing in multiple source metadata repositories. Each source metadata repository is maintained by a specific data management application. The method further includes responding to the user request in real time by identifying a data management application that corresponds to the source metadata objects associated with the user request and retrieving the source metadata objects using an application program interface (API) with the corresponding data management application.

Abstract: A method and system for managing metadata residing in multiple information sources are described. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a user interface that represents a single point for user access to source metadata residing in source metadata repositories maintained by various data management applications. The method also includes creating extended metadata that contains additional information about the source metadata, and storing the extended metadata in an extended metadata repository. The method further includes enabling a user to view, via the single access point, the source metadata residing in the source metadata repositories and the extended metadata residing in the extended metadata repository.