Which of the following is NOT a typical purpose of a data dictionary?

• A. Document metadata for data elements: definitions, data types, allowed values, and relationships.
• B. Store user identities and access passwords.
• C. List business rules to ensure consistent usage.
• D. Identify data owners and relationships.

Answer: (B)

A data dictionary is a centralized hub of metadata about data elements. It captures what each item means (definitions), the kind of data it holds (data types), the allowed values or formats, and how elements relate to one another. It also records business rules that ensure data is used consistently and identifies data owners and data relationships or lineage. Storing user identities and access passwords falls outside this metadata focus and belongs to security and identity management, not to documenting data element properties. That separation is why the credential storage item isn’t a typical purpose of a data dictionary.