Note: Data Catalog is deprecated. The official documentation states: “Data Catalog is deprecated and will be discontinued on June 1, 2026.” Its successor is Knowledge Catalog (formerly Dataplex Universal Catalog); Google provides a transition guide for the move.
What was Data Catalog?
Data Catalog was Google’s fully managed metadata management service for data discovery and data governance. It captured technical metadata from Google Cloud data sources such as BigQuery, Pub/Sub, and Cloud Storage and made it discoverable through a central, indexed search. Business metadata could be added via tags and tag templates.
Core Features (historical)
- Metadata catalog: Automatic capture of technical metadata from Google Cloud data services
- Tags and tag templates: Structured business metadata for data ownership, classification, and process context
- Policy tags: Enforcem
Available Tiers & Options
Standard
- Fully managed metadata catalog
- Tag templates and policy tags
- Search across metadata from BigQuery, Pub/Sub, and Cloud Storage
- Discontinued on June 1, 2026
- No further development; migration to Knowledge Catalog required
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Data Catalog still available?
No. Google deprecated Data Catalog; according to the official documentation the service was discontinued on June 1, 2026 ("Data Catalog is deprecated and will be discontinued on June 1, 2026.").
What is the successor to Data Catalog?
The successor is Knowledge Catalog (formerly Dataplex Universal Catalog). For moving users, workloads, and content, Google's documentation points to the guide "Transition from Data Catalog to Knowledge Catalog".
What was Data Catalog?
Data Catalog was Google's fully managed, scalable metadata management service. It captured technical metadata from Google Cloud data sources such as BigQuery, Pub/Sub, and Cloud Storage and made it discoverable through a central search index.
What happens to existing tags and tag templates?
Tags, tag templates, and policy tags are carried over as part of the transition to Knowledge Catalog. Google describes the concrete steps in the official transition guide within the Data Catalog documentation.
Which alternatives exist outside Google Cloud?
Comparable services are AWS Glue Data Catalog and Microsoft Purview. Within Google Cloud, Knowledge Catalog is the direct successor.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of Google Cloud (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by Google Cloud.
