# Tags and metadata

## Tags and metadata

Tags and metadata can both be used to help describe an instance or configure its properties.

### [Comparison chart](/instances/tags-and-metadata.md#comparison-chart) <a href="#comparison-chart" id="comparison-chart"></a>

Tags and metadata differ in how they're used within Triton, how they're managed via the APIs, and how they're best used.

| Data Type | Purpose                                                                | Mange with                                             | Accessible within instances |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------- |
| tags      | Identify an instance externally and use as instance selection criteria | Portal, CloudAPI                                       | no                          |
| metadata  | Insert data within an instance, such as environment variables          | Portal, CloudAPI, metadata client (`mdata-*` commands) | yes                         |

To create or modify **tags** with `triton`, the user must have the proper permissions and keys. **Metadata** can be modified within an instance without the need for permissions or keys.

Learn more about the use cases for [tags](https://docs.joyent.com/public-cloud/tags-metadata/tags#use-cases-for-tags) and [metadata](https://docs.joyent.com/public-cloud/tags-metadata/metadata#use-cases-for-metadata).


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