Explanation/Reference:
The primary focus of the Metadata Repository (aka Enterprise Metadata Repository or Enterprise Repository) is design-time, and it usually has no role in the runtime environment of most SOA deployments.
The metadata repository is primarily a human interface for asset capture and presentment. It has integration with the service registry to promote the service interfaces and with the security framework for repository security like authentication and access control.
Core capabilities of the metadata repository include:
* Asset Management
* Asset Lifecycle Management
* Usage Tracking
* Service Discovery
* Version Management (C)
* Service Taxonomy
* Dependency Analysis (A)
* Portfolio Management
Reference: Oracle Reference Architecture, SOA Infrastructure, Release 3.0