# Creating a catalog
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Catalogs represent the highest or top-most level in the three-level metadata hierarchy of the Amazon Glue Data Catalog. You can use multiple methods to bring data into the Data Catalog and create multi-level catalogs. 

 For more information on creating catalogs from external data sources, see [Bringing your data into the Amazon Glue Data Catalog](bring-your-data-overview.md). 

 To create a catalog using the Lake Formation console, you must be signed in as a data lake administrator or a *catalog creator*. A catalog creator is a principal who has been granted the Lake Formation `CREATE_CATALOG` permission. You can see a list of catalog creators on the **Administrative roles and tasks** page of the Lake Formation console. To view this list, you must have the `lakeformation:ListPermissions` IAM permission and be signed in as a data lake administrator or as a catalog creator with the grant option on the `CREATE_CATALOG` permission.