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Frontmatter

Plain-Language Definition

Frontmatter is the structured metadata block at the top of every aDNA file, wrapped in --- fences. It records what type of content the file is, when it was created and updated, who last edited it, and what tags apply. It is the file’s ID card — agents read it to understand what they are looking at before reading the content.

Technical Definition

YAML metadata required at the top of every content file inside the triad. Base fields (MUST on all files): type, status, created, updated, last_edited_by, tags. Extended fields (type-specific): vary by content type and are defined in templates. The last_edited_by and updated fields MUST be updated on every modification as part of collision prevention (Tier 1). (aDNA Standard §7.1-§7.2)

Usage Examples

  • This glossary entry’s own frontmatter (visible at the top of this file) demonstrates the pattern: type: glossary_entry, term: "Frontmatter", spec_section: "§7.1-§7.2", see_also: [...].
  • The status field enables content lifecycle management: draft → active → archived.

See Also