Assembly metadata is stored in Manifest. Manifest contains all the metadata needed to do the following things
Version of assembly.
Security identity.
Scope of the assembly.
Resolve references to resources and classes.
The assembly manifest can be stored in a PE file either (an .exe or) .dll with Microsoft
intermediate language (MSIL code with Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) code or in a
stand-alone PE file, that contains only assembly manifest information.