diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 0848e3c..f45e71b 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ Collate:
     'reexport.R'
     'relabel.R'
     'rename_variable.R'
+    'update_description.R'
     'upgrade_data.R'
     'utils.R'
     'verify_vc.R'
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 54ae455..15c92a2 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export(rename_variable)
 export(repository)
 export(rm_data)
 export(status)
+export(update_description)
 export(upgrade_data)
 export(verify_vc)
 export(write_vc)
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ importFrom(utils,file_test)
 importFrom(utils,flush.console)
 importFrom(utils,packageVersion)
 importFrom(utils,read.table)
+importFrom(utils,tail)
 importFrom(utils,write.table)
 importFrom(yaml,as.yaml)
 importFrom(yaml,read_yaml)
diff --git a/R/meta.R b/R/meta.R
index ec940af..22483df 100644
--- a/R/meta.R
+++ b/R/meta.R
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ meta <- function(x, ...) {
 #' @export
 #' @rdname meta
 #' @importFrom assertthat assert_that is.string noNA
-meta.character <- function(
-  x, na = "NA", optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...
-) {
+meta.character <- function(x, na = "NA", optimize = TRUE, ...) {
   assert_that(is.string(na), noNA(na), no_whitespace(na))
   assert_that(is.flag(optimize), noNA(optimize))
   x <- enc2utf8(x)
@@ -50,40 +48,23 @@ Please use a different NA string or consider using a factor.", call. = FALSE)
   to_escape <- grepl(ifelse(optimize, "(\"|\t|\n)", "(\"|,|\n)"), x)
   x[to_escape] <- paste0("\"", x[to_escape], "\"")
   x[is.na(x)] <- na
-  list(class = "character", na_string = na) |>
-    meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+  list(class = "character", na_string = na) -> m
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(x, "meta") <- m
   return(x)
 }
 
-#' @importFrom assertthat assert_that is.string
-meta_desc <- function(meta, description) {
-  assert_that(is.character(description), is.list(meta))
-  if (length(description) == 0) {
-    return(meta)
-  }
-  assert_that(is.string(description))
-  if (is.na(description)) {
-    return(meta)
-  } else {
-    return(c(meta, description = unname(description)))
-  }
-}
-
 #' @export
-meta.integer <- function(x, description = character(0), ...) {
-  list(class = "integer") |>
-    meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+meta.integer <- function(x, ...) {
+  list(class = "integer") -> m
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(x, "meta") <- m
   return(x)
 }
 
 #' @export
-meta.numeric <- function(x, description = character(0), ...) {
-  list(class = "numeric") |>
-    meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+meta.numeric <- function(x, ...) {
+  list(class = "numeric") -> m
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(x, "meta") <- m
   return(x)
@@ -105,8 +86,7 @@ meta.numeric <- function(x, description = character(0), ...) {
 #' `meta()` ignores, with a warning, any change in the order of factor levels.
 #' Add `strict = FALSE` to enforce the new order of factor levels.
 meta.factor <- function(
-  x, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", index, strict = TRUE,
-  description = character(0), ...
+  x, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", index, strict = TRUE, ...
 ) {
   assert_that(is.flag(optimize), noNA(optimize), is.flag(strict), noNA(strict))
   levels(x) <- enc2utf8(levels(x))
@@ -154,8 +134,7 @@ Please use a different NA string or use optimize = TRUE")
   list(
     class = "factor", na_string = na, optimize = optimize,
     labels = names(index), index = unname(index), ordered = is.ordered(x)
-  ) |>
-    meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+  ) -> m
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(z, "meta") <- m
   return(z)
@@ -164,23 +143,20 @@ Please use a different NA string or use optimize = TRUE")
 #' @export
 #' @rdname meta
 #' @importFrom assertthat assert_that is.flag noNA
-meta.logical <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...) {
+meta.logical <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, ...) {
   assert_that(is.flag(optimize), noNA(optimize))
   if (optimize) {
     x <- as.integer(x)
   }
-  list(class = "logical", optimize = optimize) |>
-    meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+  list(class = "logical", optimize = optimize) -> m
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(x, "meta") <- m
   return(x)
 }
 
 #' @export
-meta.complex <- function(x, description = character(0), ...) {
-  assert_that(is.character(description), length(description) <= 1)
-  list(class = "complex") |>
-    meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+meta.complex <- function(x, ...) {
+  list(class = "complex") -> m
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(x, "meta") <- m
   return(x)
@@ -189,22 +165,20 @@ meta.complex <- function(x, description = character(0), ...) {
 #' @export
 #' @rdname meta
 #' @importFrom assertthat assert_that is.flag noNA
-meta.POSIXct <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...) {
+meta.POSIXct <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, ...) {
   assert_that(is.flag(optimize), noNA(optimize))
   if (optimize) {
     z <- unclass(x)
     list(
       class = "POSIXct", optimize = TRUE, origin = "1970-01-01 00:00:00",
       timezone = "UTC"
-    ) |>
-      meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+    ) -> m
   } else {
     z <- format(x, format = "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", tz = "UTC")
     list(
       class = "POSIXct", optimize = FALSE, format = "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ",
       timezone = "UTC"
-    ) |>
-      meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+    ) -> m
   }
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(z, "meta") <- m
@@ -214,16 +188,14 @@ meta.POSIXct <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...) {
 #' @export
 #' @rdname meta
 #' @importFrom assertthat assert_that is.flag noNA
-meta.Date <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...) {
+meta.Date <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, ...) {
   assert_that(is.flag(optimize), noNA(optimize))
   if (optimize) {
     z <- as.integer(x)
-    list(class = "Date", optimize = TRUE, origin = "1970-01-01") |>
-      meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+    list(class = "Date", optimize = TRUE, origin = "1970-01-01") -> m
   } else {
     z <- format(x, format = "%Y-%m-%d")
-    list(class = "Date", optimize = FALSE, format = "%Y-%m-%d") |>
-      meta_desc(description = description) -> m
+    list(class = "Date", optimize = FALSE, format = "%Y-%m-%d") -> m
   }
   class(m) <- "meta_detail"
   attr(z, "meta") <- m
@@ -246,7 +218,7 @@ meta.Date <- function(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...) {
 #' @inheritParams write_vc
 meta.data.frame <- function(# nolint
   x, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", sorting, strict = TRUE,
-  split_by = character(0), description = character(0), ...
+  split_by = character(0), ...
 ) {
   assert_that(
     !has_name(x, "..generic"),
@@ -263,11 +235,6 @@ meta.data.frame <- function(# nolint
     any(!colnames(x) %in% split_by),
     msg = "No remaining variables after splitting"
   )
-  assert_that(is.character(description))
-  stopifnot(
-    "All names in `description` must match an existing variable in `x`" =
-      all(names(description) %in% colnames(x))
-  )
 
   dots <- list(...)
   if (has_name(dots, "old")) {
@@ -308,12 +275,10 @@ Add extra sorting variables to ensure small diffs.", sorted)
   if (!has_name(dots, "old")) {
     z <- lapply(
       colnames(x),
-      function(id, optimize, na, description) {
-        meta(
-          x[[id]], optimize = optimize, na = na, description = description[id]
-        )
+      function(id, optimize, na) {
+        meta(x[[id]], optimize = optimize, na = na)
       },
-      optimize = optimize, na = na, description = description
+      optimize = optimize, na = na
     )
     names(z) <- colnames(x)
   } else {
@@ -321,16 +286,15 @@ Add extra sorting variables to ensure small diffs.", sorted)
     if (length(common)) {
       z_common <- lapply(
         common,
-        function(id, optimize, na, strict, description) {
+        function(id, optimize, na, strict) {
           meta(
             x[[id]], optimize = optimize, na = na,
             index = setNames(old[[id]][["index"]], old[[id]][["labels"]]),
-            strict = strict, description = description[id]
+            strict = strict
           )
         },
         optimize = old[["..generic"]][["optimize"]],
-        na = old[["..generic"]][["NA string"]],
-        strict = strict, description = description
+        na = old[["..generic"]][["NA string"]], strict = strict
       )
       names(z_common) <- common
     } else {
@@ -340,13 +304,10 @@ Add extra sorting variables to ensure small diffs.", sorted)
     if (length(new)) {
       z_new <- lapply(
         new,
-        function(id, optimize, na, description) {
-          meta(
-            x[[id]], optimize = optimize, na = na,
-            description = description[id]
-          )
+        function(id, optimize, na) {
+          meta(x[[id]], optimize = optimize, na = na)
         },
-        optimize = optimize, na = na, description = description
+        optimize = optimize, na = na
       )
       names(z_new) <- new
     } else {
diff --git a/R/print.R b/R/print.R
index b2231fc..fad70c9 100644
--- a/R/print.R
+++ b/R/print.R
@@ -3,10 +3,21 @@
 #' Prints the data and the description of the columns when available.
 #' @param x a `git2rdata` object
 #' @param ... additional arguments passed to `print`
+#' @family internal
 #' @export
+#' @importFrom utils tail
 print.git2rdata <- function(x, ...) {
   class(x) <- tail(class(x), -1)
   print(x, ...)
+  if (has_attr(x, "table name")) {
+    cat("\nTable name: ", attr(x, "table name"))
+  }
+  if (has_attr(x, "title")) {
+    cat("\nTitle: ", attr(x, "title"))
+  }
+  if (has_attr(x, "description")) {
+    cat("\nDescription: ", attr(x, "description"))
+  }
   vapply(colnames(x), display_description, character(1), x = x) |>
     cat()
   return(invisible(NULL))
@@ -26,11 +37,22 @@ display_description <- function(x, colname) {
 #' available.
 #' @param object a `git2rdata` object
 #' @param ... additional arguments passed to `summary`
+#' @family internal
 #' @export
+#' @importFrom utils tail
 summary.git2rdata <- function(object, ...) {
   class(object) <- tail(class(object), -1)
   summary(object, ...) |>
     print()
+  if (has_attr(object, "table name")) {
+    cat("\nTable name: ", attr(object, "table name"))
+  }
+  if (has_attr(object, "title")) {
+    cat("\nTitle: ", attr(object, "title"))
+  }
+  if (has_attr(object, "description")) {
+    cat("\nDescription: ", attr(object, "description"))
+  }
   vapply(colnames(object), display_description, character(1), x = object) |>
     cat()
   return(invisible(NULL))
diff --git a/R/read_vc.R b/R/read_vc.R
index da5a7f6..ace2de4 100644
--- a/R/read_vc.R
+++ b/R/read_vc.R
@@ -142,10 +142,20 @@ read_vc.character <- function(file, root = ".") {
     }
   )
   has_description <- names(has_description)[has_description]
-  if (length(has_description) > 0) {
-    for (desc in has_description) {
-      attr(raw_data[[desc]], "description") <- details[[desc]]$description
-    }
+  for (desc in has_description) {
+    attr(raw_data[[desc]], "description") <- details[[desc]]$description
+  }
+
+  if (has_name(meta_data[["..generic"]], "name")) {
+    attr(raw_data, "table name") <- meta_data[["..generic"]][["name"]]
+  }
+
+  if (has_name(meta_data[["..generic"]], "title")) {
+    attr(raw_data, "title") <- meta_data[["..generic"]][["title"]]
+  }
+
+  if (has_name(meta_data[["..generic"]], "description")) {
+    attr(raw_data, "description") <- meta_data[["..generic"]][["description"]]
   }
 
   class(raw_data) <- c("git2rdata", class(raw_data))
diff --git a/R/update_description.R b/R/update_description.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..042d6c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/update_description.R
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#' Update the description of a `git2rdata` object
+#'
+#' Allows to update the description of the fields, the table name, the title,
+#' and the description of a `git2rdata` object.
+#' All arguments are optional.
+#' Setting an argument to `NA` or an empty string will remove the corresponding
+#' field from the metadata.
+#'
+#' @inheritParams is_git2rmeta
+#' @param field_description a named character vector with the new descriptions
+#' for the fields.
+#' The names of the vector must match the variable names.
+#' @param name a character string with the new table name of the object.
+#' @param title a character string with the new title of the object.
+#' @param description a character string with the new description of the object.
+#' @family storage
+#' @export
+#' @importFrom assertthat assert_that has_name
+update_description <- function(
+  file, root = ".", field_description, name, title, description
+) {
+  root <- normalizePath(root, winslash = "/", mustWork = TRUE)
+  file <- clean_data_path(root = root, file = file)
+  is_git2rmeta(
+    file = remove_root(file = file["meta_file"], root = root), root = root,
+    message = "error"
+  )
+  old <- read_yaml(file["meta_file"])
+  class(old) <- "meta_list"
+  if (!missing(field_description)) {
+    assert_that(
+      is.character(field_description), length(field_description) > 0,
+      !has_name(field_description, "..generic")
+    )
+    stopifnot(
+      "names in `field_description` don't match variable names" =
+        all(names(field_description) %in% names(old))
+    )
+    for (name in names(field_description)) {
+      old[[name]][["description"]] <- update_or_drop(field_description[[name]])
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!missing(name)) {
+    old[["..generic"]][["name"]] <- update_or_drop(name)
+  }
+
+  if (!missing(title)) {
+    old[["..generic"]][["title"]] <- update_or_drop(title)
+  }
+
+  if (!missing(description)) {
+    old[["..generic"]][["description"]] <- update_or_drop(description)
+  }
+
+  packageVersion("git2rdata") |>
+    as.character() -> old[["..generic"]][["git2rdata"]]
+  metadata_hash(old) -> old[["..generic"]][["hash"]]
+  write_yaml(old, file["meta_file"])
+  return(invisible(NULL))
+}
+
+#' @importFrom assertthat assert_that is.string
+update_or_drop <- function(x) {
+  assert_that(is.string(x))
+  if (is.na(x) || x == "") {
+    return(NULL)
+  } else {
+    return(x)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/R/write_vc.R b/R/write_vc.R
index 524b34c..50715ec 100644
--- a/R/write_vc.R
+++ b/R/write_vc.R
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@
 #' `strict = TRUE` returns an error and leaves the data and metadata as is.
 #' Defaults to `TRUE`.
 #' @param ... parameters used in some methods
-#' @param description An optional named character vector containing a
-#' description for the variables in `x`.
-#' The names of the vector must match the column names of `x`.
-#' When provided, the description is stored in the metadata.
-#' You don't have to provide a description for all columns.
 #' @inheritParams meta
 #' @inheritParams utils::write.table
 #' @return a named vector with the file paths relative to `root`. The names
@@ -40,15 +35,14 @@
 #' column name in a `data.frame`.
 write_vc <- function(
   x, file, root = ".", sorting, strict = TRUE, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", ...,
-  split_by, description = character(0)
+  split_by
 ) {
   UseMethod("write_vc", root)
 }
 
 #' @export
 write_vc.default <- function(
-  x, file, root, sorting, strict = TRUE, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", ...,
-  description = character(0)
+  x, file, root, sorting, strict = TRUE, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", ...
 ) {
   stop("a 'root' of class ", class(root), " is not supported", call. = FALSE)
 }
@@ -64,7 +58,7 @@ write_vc.default <- function(
 #' @importFrom git2r hash
 write_vc.character <- function(
   x, file, root = ".", sorting, strict = TRUE, optimize = TRUE,
-  na = "NA", ..., split_by = character(0), description = character(0)
+  na = "NA", ..., split_by = character(0)
 ) {
   assert_that(
     inherits(x, "data.frame"), is.string(file), is.string(root),  is.string(na),
@@ -78,8 +72,7 @@ write_vc.character <- function(
 
   if (!file.exists(file["meta_file"])) {
     raw_data <- meta(
-      x, optimize = optimize, na = na, sorting = sorting, split_by = split_by,
-      description = description
+      x, optimize = optimize, na = na, sorting = sorting, split_by = split_by
     )
   } else {
     tryCatch(
@@ -94,7 +87,7 @@ write_vc.character <- function(
     class(old) <- "meta_list"
     raw_data <- meta(
       x, optimize = optimize, na = na, sorting = sorting, old = old,
-      strict = strict, split_by = split_by, description = description
+      strict = strict, split_by = split_by
     )
     problems <- compare_meta(attr(raw_data, "meta"), old)
     if (length(problems)) {
@@ -170,8 +163,7 @@ write_vc.character <- function(
     packageVersion("git2rdata")
   )
   meta_data[["..generic"]][["data_hash"]] <- datahash(file["raw_file"])
-  write_yaml(meta_data, file["meta_file"],
-             fileEncoding = "UTF-8")
+  write_yaml(meta_data, file["meta_file"], fileEncoding = "UTF-8")
 
   hashes <- remove_root(file = file, root = root)
   names(hashes) <-
diff --git a/man/is_git2rdata.Rd b/man/is_git2rdata.Rd
index d0c18c3..ff111a7 100644
--- a/man/is_git2rdata.Rd
+++ b/man/is_git2rdata.Rd
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ is_git2rdata("iris", root)
 Other internal: 
 \code{\link{is_git2rmeta}()},
 \code{\link{meta}()},
+\code{\link{print.git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{summary.git2rdata}()},
 \code{\link{upgrade_data}()}
 }
 \concept{internal}
diff --git a/man/is_git2rmeta.Rd b/man/is_git2rmeta.Rd
index dfdd7ea..f4143e3 100644
--- a/man/is_git2rmeta.Rd
+++ b/man/is_git2rmeta.Rd
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ is_git2rdata("iris", root)
 Other internal: 
 \code{\link{is_git2rdata}()},
 \code{\link{meta}()},
+\code{\link{print.git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{summary.git2rdata}()},
 \code{\link{upgrade_data}()}
 }
 \concept{internal}
diff --git a/man/list_data.Rd b/man/list_data.Rd
index a84b9d7..398dc6c 100644
--- a/man/list_data.Rd
+++ b/man/list_data.Rd
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/meta.Rd b/man/meta.Rd
index cab561a..58bf948 100644
--- a/man/meta.Rd
+++ b/man/meta.Rd
@@ -13,23 +13,15 @@
 \usage{
 meta(x, ...)
 
-\method{meta}{character}(x, na = "NA", optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...)
+\method{meta}{character}(x, na = "NA", optimize = TRUE, ...)
 
-\method{meta}{factor}(
-  x,
-  optimize = TRUE,
-  na = "NA",
-  index,
-  strict = TRUE,
-  description = character(0),
-  ...
-)
+\method{meta}{factor}(x, optimize = TRUE, na = "NA", index, strict = TRUE, ...)
 
-\method{meta}{logical}(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...)
+\method{meta}{logical}(x, optimize = TRUE, ...)
 
-\method{meta}{POSIXct}(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...)
+\method{meta}{POSIXct}(x, optimize = TRUE, ...)
 
-\method{meta}{Date}(x, optimize = TRUE, description = character(0), ...)
+\method{meta}{Date}(x, optimize = TRUE, ...)
 
 \method{meta}{data.frame}(
   x,
@@ -38,7 +30,6 @@ meta(x, ...)
   sorting,
   strict = TRUE,
   split_by = character(0),
-  description = character(0),
   ...
 )
 }
@@ -53,12 +44,6 @@ meta(x, ...)
 If \code{FALSE}, \code{meta()} converts the data to character.
 Defaults to \code{TRUE}.}
 
-\item{description}{An optional named character vector containing a
-description for the variables in \code{x}.
-The names of the vector must match the column names of \code{x}.
-When provided, the description is stored in the metadata.
-You don't have to provide a description for all columns.}
-
 \item{index}{An optional named vector with existing factor indices.
 The names must match the existing factor levels.
 Unmatched levels from \code{x} will get new indices.}
@@ -128,6 +113,8 @@ meta(as.Date("2019-02-01"), optimize = FALSE)
 Other internal: 
 \code{\link{is_git2rdata}()},
 \code{\link{is_git2rmeta}()},
+\code{\link{print.git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{summary.git2rdata}()},
 \code{\link{upgrade_data}()}
 }
 \concept{internal}
diff --git a/man/print.git2rdata.Rd b/man/print.git2rdata.Rd
index b1a81f6..4436c28 100644
--- a/man/print.git2rdata.Rd
+++ b/man/print.git2rdata.Rd
@@ -14,3 +14,12 @@
 \description{
 Prints the data and the description of the columns when available.
 }
+\seealso{
+Other internal: 
+\code{\link{is_git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{is_git2rmeta}()},
+\code{\link{meta}()},
+\code{\link{summary.git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{upgrade_data}()}
+}
+\concept{internal}
diff --git a/man/prune_meta.Rd b/man/prune_meta.Rd
index 2026ec8..9fdc254 100644
--- a/man/prune_meta.Rd
+++ b/man/prune_meta.Rd
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/read_vc.Rd b/man/read_vc.Rd
index b7a7eb1..b81912d 100644
--- a/man/read_vc.Rd
+++ b/man/read_vc.Rd
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/relabel.Rd b/man/relabel.Rd
index f37e063..0013244 100644
--- a/man/relabel.Rd
+++ b/man/relabel.Rd
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{read_vc}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/rename_variable.Rd b/man/rename_variable.Rd
index 0c78e42..7172db2 100644
--- a/man/rename_variable.Rd
+++ b/man/rename_variable.Rd
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{read_vc}()},
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/rm_data.Rd b/man/rm_data.Rd
index 863db48..6b7331e 100644
--- a/man/rm_data.Rd
+++ b/man/rm_data.Rd
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{read_vc}()},
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
diff --git a/man/summary.git2rdata.Rd b/man/summary.git2rdata.Rd
index 03943b9..e135857 100644
--- a/man/summary.git2rdata.Rd
+++ b/man/summary.git2rdata.Rd
@@ -15,3 +15,12 @@
 Prints the summary of the data and the description of the columns when
 available.
 }
+\seealso{
+Other internal: 
+\code{\link{is_git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{is_git2rmeta}()},
+\code{\link{meta}()},
+\code{\link{print.git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{upgrade_data}()}
+}
+\concept{internal}
diff --git a/man/update_description.Rd b/man/update_description.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ec4330
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/update_description.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/update_description.R
+\name{update_description}
+\alias{update_description}
+\title{Update the description of a \code{git2rdata} object}
+\usage{
+update_description(
+  file,
+  root = ".",
+  field_description,
+  name,
+  title,
+  description
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{file}{the name of the git2rdata object. Git2rdata objects cannot
+have dots in their name. The name may include a relative path. \code{file} is a
+path relative to the \code{root}.
+Note that \code{file} must point to a location within \code{root}.}
+
+\item{root}{The root of a project. Can be a file path or a \code{git-repository}.
+Defaults to the current working directory (\code{"."}).}
+
+\item{field_description}{a named character vector with the new descriptions
+for the fields.
+The names of the vector must match the variable names.}
+
+\item{name}{a character string with the new table name of the object.}
+
+\item{title}{a character string with the new title of the object.}
+
+\item{description}{a character string with the new description of the object.}
+}
+\description{
+Allows to update the description of the fields, the table name, the title,
+and the description of a \code{git2rdata} object.
+All arguments are optional.
+Setting an argument to \code{NA} or an empty string will remove the corresponding
+field from the metadata.
+}
+\seealso{
+Other storage: 
+\code{\link{list_data}()},
+\code{\link{prune_meta}()},
+\code{\link{read_vc}()},
+\code{\link{relabel}()},
+\code{\link{rename_variable}()},
+\code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{verify_vc}()},
+\code{\link{write_vc}()}
+}
+\concept{storage}
diff --git a/man/upgrade_data.Rd b/man/upgrade_data.Rd
index 8f90cb7..b103ead 100644
--- a/man/upgrade_data.Rd
+++ b/man/upgrade_data.Rd
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ upgrade_data(path = ".", root = root)
 Other internal: 
 \code{\link{is_git2rdata}()},
 \code{\link{is_git2rmeta}()},
-\code{\link{meta}()}
+\code{\link{meta}()},
+\code{\link{print.git2rdata}()},
+\code{\link{summary.git2rdata}()}
 }
 \concept{internal}
diff --git a/man/verify_vc.Rd b/man/verify_vc.Rd
index 022af43..3caf2f9 100644
--- a/man/verify_vc.Rd
+++ b/man/verify_vc.Rd
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{write_vc}()}
 }
 \concept{storage}
diff --git a/man/write_vc.Rd b/man/write_vc.Rd
index 7924c38..fd6b618 100644
--- a/man/write_vc.Rd
+++ b/man/write_vc.Rd
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ write_vc(
   optimize = TRUE,
   na = "NA",
   ...,
-  split_by,
-  description = character(0)
+  split_by
 )
 
 \method{write_vc}{character}(
@@ -28,8 +27,7 @@ write_vc(
   optimize = TRUE,
   na = "NA",
   ...,
-  split_by = character(0),
-  description = character(0)
+  split_by = character(0)
 )
 
 \method{write_vc}{git_repository}(
@@ -81,12 +79,6 @@ Defaults to \code{TRUE}.}
 This creates a separate file for every combination.
 We prepend these variables to the vector of \code{sorting} variables.}
 
-\item{description}{An optional named character vector containing a
-description for the variables in \code{x}.
-The names of the vector must match the column names of \code{x}.
-When provided, the description is stored in the metadata.
-You don't have to provide a description for all columns.}
-
 \item{stage}{Logical value indicating whether to stage the changes after
 writing the data. Defaults to \code{FALSE}.}
 
@@ -174,6 +166,7 @@ Other storage:
 \code{\link{relabel}()},
 \code{\link{rename_variable}()},
 \code{\link{rm_data}()},
+\code{\link{update_description}()},
 \code{\link{verify_vc}()}
 }
 \concept{storage}