Final answer:
Databases are self-describing due to the presence of metadata in addition to the actual data, which adds context and structure to the content in the database.
Step-by-step explanation:
Databases are indeed self-describing because they contain two types of data: The actual data (typical data that we think of as content, like names, dates, transactions, etc.), as well as metadata, which is data about the data. This metadata can include information such as data types, table structures, column information, and relationships between data in the database. For example, in a database that stores customer orders, metadata would describe the tables that hold customer information and orders, the types of data that can be stored in each field (such as numeric, text, date/time, etc.), and how the customer table is related to the orders table. This self-describing nature of databases helps to ensure that the data within them can be accurately managed, interpreted, and utilized by database management systems.