# Displaying or hiding the metadata of the server

On the workbench, you have the option to display or hide the metadata of the server.

The metadata contains a variety of information about the server such as:

- The location where the server configuration files are stored on the workbench.
- The fully qualified DNS name or IP address of the host machine where the server is running.
- The name assigned to the server.
- The name of the installed server runtime environment which defines the runtime environment of an application server for compiling your application.

By default, the workbench hides the metadata of the server to keep the development workspace clean. Displaying the metadata of the server on the workbench, allows you to persist the data of the server in a serverName.server file, where serverName is the name assigned to the server. The serverName.server file is useful when you are working in a team development environment and you are required to maintain the metadata of the server in a source control repository.

To display or hide the metadata of the server:

1. In the Servers view, right-click the server you want to display or hide the metadata and select Properties.
2. In the General page there is a Location field, select the Switch location button to toggle between displaying and hiding the metadata on the workbench.
   Tip: If the value of the Location field contains `[workspace metadata]`, this means the workbench is hiding the metadata. To display the metadata on the workbench, select the Switch location button again until the `[workspace metadata]` changes to a file path directory. The file path directory specifies the location where the server metadata file is stored on the workbench. The next step describes where you can find the server metadata file in the workbench.
3. In the Project Explorer view, expand the Servers folder and then expand your server project to locate the serverName.server file, where serverName is the name assigned to your server.
4. (Optional) You can double-click serverName.server file to edit the data in the server editor.

Parent topic: Managing servers