Which term refers to data that provides information about other data, such as ownership and dates?

The term that best refers to data providing information about other data is metadata. Metadata acts as a descriptor, offering context and additional details about data sets, which can include attributes like ownership, creation dates, modification dates, and data type. This context is crucial for understanding and managing the data effectively, as it allows users to evaluate the reliability and relevance of the data they are working with.

In the realm of health information management, metadata facilitates data governance and quality assurance by ensuring that data is properly cataloged and maintained. It allows organizations to track data lineage and provenance, which is essential for compliance with regulations and maintaining data integrity.

The other options do not accurately describe this concept. For instance, auto-authentication fields refer specifically to fields that validate or authenticate information automatically, rather than providing descriptive details about other data. The term "data" itself is a broad and general term that does not specifically denote contextual information. Lastly, "information fields" does not encompass the idea of metadata as explicitly, since it suggests a focus on the content contained within data rather than the attributes that describe that content.