> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dataerai.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Create an asset before uploading > Create a metadata-first asset as a placeholder — record the details now and attach files later. An **asset** doesn't need files to exist. You can create a record first — with a title, description, and tags — and attach content later. This is useful for planned experiments, lab-notebook-style entries, or importing metadata ahead of the data itself. ## Create the asset Inside a project or collection, click **New asset** in the toolbar. Dataerai project toolbar with the New asset action Enter a **Name**, an optional **Description**, and any **Tags** (comma-separated). No files are uploaded here. Dataerai Create asset dialog for a metadata-first asset Click **Create**. The asset now exists as a placeholder, ready for content. ## Attach content later When the data is ready, attach it to the asset: * From the asset, upload its content, or * Drag files into the collection the asset lives in. Attaching content uses the same flow as a normal [browser upload](/data/upload), including metadata extraction. An asset holds a single set of content. Attach files once the data exists; until then the asset carries only its metadata. ## Next steps Attach files and review extracted metadata. How metadata, content, notes, and relationships fit together.