Configuration metadata refers to the information needed by the Spring container to configure beans and manage their lifecycle. It can be provided in several different ways, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. XML-based configuration files are one of the most common methods used, providing a way to declare the dependencies between components and create hierarchies of beans.   Annotations are also common, allowing developers to indicate the configuration of classes directly within their code. Java configuration is another method that is becoming increasingly popular, allowing users to easily create bean definitions separate from the implementation code.   Moreover, external properties files provide yet another way for users to provide configuration metadata, offering an easy way for values like server names or port numbers to be changed without needing to recompile or interpret complex XML documents. All of these different methods work together to give developers flexibility and control when configuring the Spring Container.