Final answer:
The smallest element in a database is a byte, which is the basic building block of data and typically holds a single character.
Step-by-step explanation:
The smallest element in a database is commonly referred to as a byte. To break down the options provided: A field is a single piece of information; a record is a collection of fields that usually represents a single entity; a byte is a unit of digital information that typically consists of eight bits; and metadata describes other data within the database.
In most contexts, the term 'element' with regards to databases would refer to a byte as it is the smallest addressable unit of data in a computer's memory that typically holds a single character. While fields, records, and metadata are composed of multiple bytes, the byte itself stands as the basic building block of data.