Data field lifecycle management mechanisms. Custom metadata about a database object is generated. The custom metadata includes at least a specified name for the custom metadata type, a specified one or more fields to contain configuration information for the custom metadata type, and specification of at least one relationship field having fields as its domain relating the custom metadata type to a column or field of the database object stored in a database. One or more objects of the custom metadata type are maintained with referential integrity to provide metadata corresponding to the database object. The custom metadata objects maintain tenant-specific information. The one or more objects of the custom metadata type are updated automatically. A notification to one or more users is generated for one or more objects of the custom metadata type that cannot be updated automatically, if any.