1. In an information server that has access to a storage medium wherein information objects are stored according to a storage hierarchy and further has access to a database comprising a plurality of key locations that are arranged hierarchically and store metadata, a method for retrieving an information object and metadata associated with the information object, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining a path name comprising a hierarchy of constituent names; resolving said path name into its constituent names; while proceeding from parent to child through the constituent names, performing the steps of: identifying a key location in said database that corresponds to one of the constituent names and retrieving metadata from said identified key location; identifying a storage location in the storage hierarchy of the storage medium that corresponds to another of the constituent names; and resolving a physical location of the information object at the storage medium by using said other of the constituent names and any children constituent names thereof; and retrieving the information object from the physical location.