> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://kb.ezbiocloud.net/home/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://kb.ezbiocloud.net/home/protocols/shotgun-microbiome/describe-profiles/upload-metadata.md).

# Upload Metadata

## Progress

Let's look at what we have so far:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Raw Data" %}
Unprofiled samples
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Profiled Samples" %}
Profiled but undescribed samples
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Study" %}
Collection of profiled samples
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Associated Metadata" %}
Description of samples
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

\
We started with: 

**Raw Data** (unprofiled samples)

Profiled the raw data to get:

**Profiled Samples** (profiled but undescribed samples)

Grouped the profiled samples into a study:

**Study** (collection of profiled samples)

Combined the profiled sample metadata with the SRA metadata:

**Associated Metadata** (description of samples)

## Process

We want to combine the **profiled samples** and their **associated metadata** to create a dataset. 

Datasets contain samples that are both profiled and described which we can use to categorize into cohorts for discovery of statistical patterns. Datasets are necessary for bioinformatic analyses. 

## Proceed

In the next step, we will upload the metadata to the profiles.