A logical query plan to derive a target dataset from one or more source datasets is identified. The logical query plan defines source columns of the one or more source datasets and respective target columns of the target dataset. The logical query plan is parsed to derive relationships between the source columns of the one or more source datasets and the respective target columns of the target dataset. Target column metadata is generated for a target column of the target dataset. The target column metadata reflects a derived relationship between one or more source columns and the target column and existing source column metadata of each of the one or more source columns. The target column metadata is stored for the target column of the target dataset.