diff --git a/.chloggen/feat_13781.yaml b/.chloggen/feat_13781.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..be90457af7f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/feat_13781.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: "enhancement"
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. otlpreceiver)
+component: "cmd/mdatagen"
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: "Add lint/ordering validation for metadata.yaml"
+
+# One or more tracking issues or pull requests related to the change
+issues: [13781]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext:
+
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: [user]
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/go.mod b/cmd/mdatagen/go.mod
index 2eed28f19d80..618ca3939d0e 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/go.mod
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/go.mod
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ require (
 	go.uber.org/goleak v1.3.0
 	go.uber.org/zap v1.27.0
 	golang.org/x/text v0.29.0
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 )
 
 require (
@@ -77,7 +78,6 @@ require (
 	google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/rpc v0.0.0-20250825161204-c5933d9347a5 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/grpc v1.76.0 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.36.10 // indirect
-	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
 )
 
 replace go.opentelemetry.io/collector/component => ../../component
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command.go b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command.go
index 0f4ca575530e..511dad19d159 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command.go
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"golang.org/x/text/cases"
 	"golang.org/x/text/language"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -77,6 +78,15 @@ func run(ymlPath string) error {
 	ymlDir := filepath.Dir(ymlPath)
 	packageName := filepath.Base(ymlDir)
 
+	raw, readErr := os.ReadFile(ymlPath) //nolint:gosec // G304: abs path is cleaned/validated above; safe to read
+	if readErr != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed reading %v: %w", ymlPath, readErr)
+	}
+
+	if err = validateYAMLKeyOrder(raw); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("metadata.yaml ordering check failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	md, err := LoadMetadata(ymlPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed loading %v: %w", ymlPath, err)
@@ -404,3 +414,62 @@ func generateFile(tmplFile, outputFile string, md Metadata, goPackage string) er
 
 	return formatErr
 }
+
+func validateMappingKeysSorted(root *yaml.Node, path ...string) error {
+	// unwrap doc
+	n := root
+	if n.Kind == yaml.DocumentNode && len(n.Content) > 0 {
+		n = n.Content[0]
+	}
+	// follow path
+	for _, seg := range path {
+		if n.Kind != yaml.MappingNode {
+			return nil
+		}
+		var next *yaml.Node
+		for i := 0; i < len(n.Content); i += 2 {
+			if n.Content[i].Value == seg {
+				next = n.Content[i+1]
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if next == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		n = next
+	}
+	if n.Kind != yaml.MappingNode {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// collect keys
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(n.Content)/2)
+	for i := 0; i < len(n.Content); i += 2 {
+		keys = append(keys, n.Content[i].Value)
+	}
+
+	if !slices.IsSorted(keys) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%v keys are not sorted: %v", path, keys)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ValidateYAMLKeyOrder checks the sections we care about.
+func validateYAMLKeyOrder(raw []byte) error {
+	var doc yaml.Node
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(raw, &doc); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	for _, p := range [][]string{
+		{"resource_attributes"},
+		{"attributes"},
+		{"metrics"},
+		{"events"},
+		{"telemetry", "metrics"},
+	} {
+		if err := validateMappingKeysSorted(&doc, p...); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command_test.go b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command_test.go
index 706e00e46eef..9a079c625c75 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/command_test.go
@@ -48,12 +48,17 @@ func TestRunContents(t *testing.T) {
 		wantGoleakSetup                 bool
 		wantGoleakTeardown              bool
 		wantErr                         bool
+		wantOrderErr                    bool
 		wantAttributes                  []string
 	}{
 		{
 			yml:     "invalid.yaml",
 			wantErr: true,
 		},
+		{
+			yml:          "unsorted_rattr.yaml",
+			wantOrderErr: true,
+		},
 		{
 			yml:                        "basic_connector.yaml",
 			wantErr:                    false,
@@ -234,6 +239,11 @@ foo
 			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tmpdir, generatedPackageDir, "generated_component_test.go"), []byte("test"), 0o600))
 
 			err = run(metadataFile)
+			if tt.wantOrderErr {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "metadata.yaml ordering check failed")
+				return
+			}
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			var contents []byte
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleconnector/metadata.yaml b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleconnector/metadata.yaml
index ad46b6f834dc..e5a666023ccc 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleconnector/metadata.yaml
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleconnector/metadata.yaml
@@ -18,15 +18,9 @@ status:
     - Any additional information that should be brought to the consumer's attention
 
 resource_attributes:
-  string.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-    enabled: true
-
-  string.enum.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [one, two]
+  map.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
+    type: map
     enabled: true
 
   optional.resource.attr:
@@ -39,9 +33,15 @@ resource_attributes:
     type: slice
     enabled: true
 
-  map.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
-    type: map
+  string.enum.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [one, two]
+    enabled: true
+
+  string.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
     enabled: true
 
   string.resource.attr_disable_warning:
@@ -66,20 +66,6 @@ resource_attributes:
       if_enabled: This resource_attribute is deprecated and will be removed soon.
 
 attributes:
-  string_attr:
-    description: Attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-
-  overridden_int_attr:
-    name_override: state
-    description: Integer attribute with overridden name.
-    type: int
-
-  enum_attr:
-    description: Attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [red, green, blue]
-
   boolean_attr:
     description: Attribute with a boolean value.
     type: bool
@@ -90,14 +76,28 @@ attributes:
     description: Another attribute with a boolean value.
     type: bool
 
-  slice_attr:
-    description: Attribute with a slice value.
-    type: slice
+  enum_attr:
+    description: Attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [red, green, blue]
 
   map_attr:
     description: Attribute with a map value.
     type: map
 
+  overridden_int_attr:
+    name_override: state
+    description: Integer attribute with overridden name.
+    type: int
+
+  slice_attr:
+    description: Attribute with a slice value.
+    type: slice
+
+  string_attr:
+    description: Attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
+
 metrics:
   default.metric:
     enabled: true
@@ -108,30 +108,11 @@ metrics:
       value_type: int
       monotonic: true
       aggregation_temporality: cumulative
-    attributes: [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
+    attributes:
+      [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
     warnings:
       if_enabled_not_set: This metric will be disabled by default soon.
 
-  optional.metric:
-    enabled: false
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
-    unit: "1"
-    gauge:
-      value_type: double
-    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-
-  optional.metric.empty_unit:
-    enabled: false
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
-    unit: ""
-    gauge:
-      value_type: double
-    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-
   default.metric.to_be_removed:
     enabled: true
     description: "[DEPRECATED] Non-monotonic delta sum double metric enabled by default."
@@ -153,4 +134,25 @@ metrics:
       input_type: string
       monotonic: true
       aggregation_temporality: cumulative
-    attributes: [ string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr ]
+    attributes:
+      [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
+
+  optional.metric:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
+    unit: "1"
+    gauge:
+      value_type: double
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
+
+  optional.metric.empty_unit:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
+    unit: ""
+    gauge:
+      value_type: double
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleprocessor/metadata.yaml b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleprocessor/metadata.yaml
index 1ad54810e09d..ce7f738c0f6f 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleprocessor/metadata.yaml
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/sampleprocessor/metadata.yaml
@@ -21,15 +21,9 @@ status:
     - Any additional information that should be brought to the consumer's attention
 
 resource_attributes:
-  string.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-    enabled: true
-
-  string.enum.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [one, two]
+  map.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
+    type: map
     enabled: true
 
   optional.resource.attr:
@@ -42,9 +36,15 @@ resource_attributes:
     type: slice
     enabled: true
 
-  map.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
-    type: map
+  string.enum.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [one, two]
+    enabled: true
+
+  string.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
     enabled: true
 
   string.resource.attr_disable_warning:
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplereceiver/metadata.yaml b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplereceiver/metadata.yaml
index 95b22c30741e..9aa1b75f87d8 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplereceiver/metadata.yaml
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplereceiver/metadata.yaml
@@ -26,15 +26,9 @@ status:
     - Any additional information that should be brought to the consumer's attention
 
 resource_attributes:
-  string.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-    enabled: true
-
-  string.enum.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [one, two]
+  map.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
+    type: map
     enabled: true
 
   optional.resource.attr:
@@ -47,9 +41,15 @@ resource_attributes:
     type: slice
     enabled: true
 
-  map.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
-    type: map
+  string.enum.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [one, two]
+    enabled: true
+
+  string.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
     enabled: true
 
   string.resource.attr_disable_warning:
@@ -74,20 +74,6 @@ resource_attributes:
       if_enabled: This resource_attribute is deprecated and will be removed soon.
 
 attributes:
-  string_attr:
-    description: Attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-
-  overridden_int_attr:
-    name_override: state
-    description: Integer attribute with overridden name.
-    type: int
-
-  enum_attr:
-    description: Attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [red, green, blue]
-
   boolean_attr:
     description: Attribute with a boolean value.
     type: bool
@@ -98,9 +84,10 @@ attributes:
     description: Another attribute with a boolean value.
     type: bool
 
-  slice_attr:
-    description: Attribute with a slice value.
-    type: slice
+  enum_attr:
+    description: Attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [red, green, blue]
 
   map_attr:
     description: Attribute with a map value.
@@ -116,29 +103,52 @@ attributes:
     type: string
     optional: true
 
+  overridden_int_attr:
+    name_override: state
+    description: Integer attribute with overridden name.
+    type: int
+
+  slice_attr:
+    description: Attribute with a slice value.
+    type: slice
+
+  string_attr:
+    description: Attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
+
 events:
   default.event:
     enabled: true
     description: Example event enabled by default.
-    attributes: [ string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr, optional_int_attr, optional_string_attr]
+    attributes:
+      [
+        string_attr,
+        overridden_int_attr,
+        enum_attr,
+        slice_attr,
+        map_attr,
+        optional_int_attr,
+        optional_string_attr,
+      ]
     warnings:
       if_enabled_not_set: This event will be disabled by default soon.
 
-  default.event.to_be_renamed:
-    enabled: false
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Example event disabled by default."
-    extended_documentation: The event will be renamed soon.
-    attributes: [ string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2, optional_string_attr ]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This event is deprecated and will be renamed soon.
-
   default.event.to_be_removed:
     enabled: true
     description: "[DEPRECATED] Example to-be-removed event enabled by default."
     extended_documentation: The event will be removed soon.
     warnings:
       if_enabled: This event is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-    attributes: [ string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr ]
+    attributes:
+      [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
+
+  default.event.to_be_renamed:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Example event disabled by default."
+    extended_documentation: The event will be renamed soon.
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2, optional_string_attr]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This event is deprecated and will be renamed soon.
 
 metrics:
   default.metric:
@@ -150,30 +160,19 @@ metrics:
       value_type: int
       monotonic: true
       aggregation_temporality: cumulative
-    attributes: [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr, optional_int_attr, optional_string_attr]
+    attributes:
+      [
+        string_attr,
+        overridden_int_attr,
+        enum_attr,
+        slice_attr,
+        map_attr,
+        optional_int_attr,
+        optional_string_attr,
+      ]
     warnings:
       if_enabled_not_set: This metric will be disabled by default soon.
 
-  optional.metric:
-    enabled: false
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
-    unit: "1"
-    gauge:
-      value_type: double
-    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2, optional_string_attr]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-
-  optional.metric.empty_unit:
-    enabled: false
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
-    unit: ""
-    gauge:
-      value_type: double
-    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-
   default.metric.to_be_removed:
     enabled: true
     description: "[DEPRECATED] Non-monotonic delta sum double metric enabled by default."
@@ -195,7 +194,28 @@ metrics:
       input_type: string
       monotonic: true
       aggregation_temporality: cumulative
-    attributes: [ string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr ]
+    attributes:
+      [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
+
+  optional.metric:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
+    unit: "1"
+    gauge:
+      value_type: double
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2, optional_string_attr]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
+
+  optional.metric.empty_unit:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
+    unit: ""
+    gauge:
+      value_type: double
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
 
 telemetry:
   metrics:
@@ -209,15 +229,6 @@ telemetry:
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    request_duration:
-      enabled: true
-      stability:
-        level: alpha
-      description: Duration of request
-      unit: s
-      histogram:
-        value_type: double
-        bucket_boundaries: [1, 10, 100]
     process_runtime_total_alloc_bytes:
       enabled: true
       stability:
@@ -228,6 +239,12 @@ telemetry:
         async: true
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
+    queue_capacity:
+      enabled: true
+      description: Queue capacity - sync gauge example.
+      unit: "{items}"
+      gauge:
+        value_type: int
     queue_length:
       enabled: true
       stability:
@@ -239,9 +256,12 @@ telemetry:
       gauge:
         async: true
         value_type: int
-    queue_capacity:
+    request_duration:
       enabled: true
-      description: Queue capacity - sync gauge example.
-      unit: "{items}"
-      gauge:
-        value_type: int
+      stability:
+        level: alpha
+      description: Duration of request
+      unit: s
+      histogram:
+        value_type: double
+        bucket_boundaries: [1, 10, 100]
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/documentation.md b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/documentation.md
index 5044a8669ef5..5b75413d1c3c 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/documentation.md
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/documentation.md
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ metrics:
 
 [DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default.
 
-| Unit | Metric Type | Value Type | Stability |
-| ---- | ----------- | ---------- | --------- |
-|  | Gauge | Double | deprecated |
+| Unit | Metric Type | Value Type |
+| ---- | ----------- | ---------- |
+|  | Gauge | Double |
 
 #### Attributes
 
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/metadata.yaml b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/metadata.yaml
index efb1a963bb9c..6f9b4c957725 100644
--- a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/metadata.yaml
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/samplescraper/metadata.yaml
@@ -19,15 +19,9 @@ status:
     - Any additional information that should be brought to the consumer's attention
 
 resource_attributes:
-  string.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-    enabled: true
-
-  string.enum.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [one, two]
+  map.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
+    type: map
     enabled: true
 
   optional.resource.attr:
@@ -40,9 +34,15 @@ resource_attributes:
     type: slice
     enabled: true
 
-  map.resource.attr:
-    description: Resource attribute with a map value.
-    type: map
+  string.enum.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [one, two]
+    enabled: true
+
+  string.resource.attr:
+    description: Resource attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
     enabled: true
 
   string.resource.attr_disable_warning:
@@ -67,20 +67,6 @@ resource_attributes:
       if_enabled: This resource_attribute is deprecated and will be removed soon.
 
 attributes:
-  string_attr:
-    description: Attribute with any string value.
-    type: string
-
-  overridden_int_attr:
-    name_override: state
-    description: Integer attribute with overridden name.
-    type: int
-
-  enum_attr:
-    description: Attribute with a known set of string values.
-    type: string
-    enum: [red, green, blue]
-
   boolean_attr:
     description: Attribute with a boolean value.
     type: bool
@@ -91,14 +77,28 @@ attributes:
     description: Another attribute with a boolean value.
     type: bool
 
-  slice_attr:
-    description: Attribute with a slice value.
-    type: slice
+  enum_attr:
+    description: Attribute with a known set of string values.
+    type: string
+    enum: [red, green, blue]
 
   map_attr:
     description: Attribute with a map value.
     type: map
 
+  overridden_int_attr:
+    name_override: state
+    description: Integer attribute with overridden name.
+    type: int
+
+  slice_attr:
+    description: Attribute with a slice value.
+    type: slice
+
+  string_attr:
+    description: Attribute with any string value.
+    type: string
+
 metrics:
   default.metric:
     enabled: true
@@ -109,32 +109,11 @@ metrics:
       value_type: int
       monotonic: true
       aggregation_temporality: cumulative
-    attributes: [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
+    attributes:
+      [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
     warnings:
       if_enabled_not_set: This metric will be disabled by default soon.
 
-  optional.metric:
-    enabled: false
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
-    unit: "1"
-    gauge:
-      value_type: double
-    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-
-  optional.metric.empty_unit:
-    enabled: false
-    stability:
-      level: deprecated
-    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
-    unit: ""
-    gauge:
-      value_type: double
-    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr]
-    warnings:
-      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
-
   default.metric.to_be_removed:
     enabled: true
     description: "[DEPRECATED] Non-monotonic delta sum double metric enabled by default."
@@ -158,4 +137,25 @@ metrics:
       input_type: string
       monotonic: true
       aggregation_temporality: cumulative
-    attributes: [ string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr ]
+    attributes:
+      [string_attr, overridden_int_attr, enum_attr, slice_attr, map_attr]
+
+  optional.metric:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
+    unit: "1"
+    gauge:
+      value_type: double
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr, boolean_attr2]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
+
+  optional.metric.empty_unit:
+    enabled: false
+    description: "[DEPRECATED] Gauge double metric disabled by default."
+    unit: ""
+    gauge:
+      value_type: double
+    attributes: [string_attr, boolean_attr]
+    warnings:
+      if_configured: This metric is deprecated and will be removed soon.
diff --git a/cmd/mdatagen/internal/testdata/unsorted_rattr.yaml b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/testdata/unsorted_rattr.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8520678f7940
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mdatagen/internal/testdata/unsorted_rattr.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+type: sample
+
+status:
+  class: receiver
+  stability:
+    beta: [logs]
+
+resource_attributes:
+  cloud.region:
+    description: region
+    enabled: true
+    type: string
+  cloud.availability_zone:
+    description: az
+    enabled: true
+    type: string
diff --git a/exporter/exporterhelper/metadata.yaml b/exporter/exporterhelper/metadata.yaml
index 0af14cce32ef..9212c3ec2210 100644
--- a/exporter/exporterhelper/metadata.yaml
+++ b/exporter/exporterhelper/metadata.yaml
@@ -13,22 +13,22 @@ status:
 
 telemetry:
   metrics:
-    exporter_sent_spans:
+    exporter_enqueue_failed_log_records:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of spans successfully sent to destination.
-      unit: "{spans}"
+      description: Number of log records failed to be added to the sending queue.
+      unit: "{records}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_send_failed_spans:
+    exporter_enqueue_failed_metric_points:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of spans in failed attempts to send to destination.
-      unit: "{spans}"
+      description: Number of metric points failed to be added to the sending queue.
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
@@ -43,45 +43,81 @@ telemetry:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_sent_metric_points:
+    exporter_queue_batch_send_size:
       enabled: true
-      stability:
-        level: alpha
-      description: Number of metric points successfully sent to destination.
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
-      sum:
+      description: Number of units in the batch
+      unit: "{units}"
+      histogram:
         value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
+        bucket_boundaries:
+          [
+            10,
+            25,
+            50,
+            75,
+            100,
+            250,
+            500,
+            750,
+            1000,
+            2000,
+            3000,
+            4000,
+            5000,
+            6000,
+            7000,
+            8000,
+            9000,
+            10000,
+            20000,
+            30000,
+            50000,
+            100000,
+          ]
 
-    exporter_send_failed_metric_points:
+    exporter_queue_batch_send_size_bytes:
       enabled: true
-      stability:
-        level: alpha
-      description: Number of metric points in failed attempts to send to destination.
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
-      sum:
+      description: Number of bytes in batch that was sent. Only available on detailed level.
+      unit: By
+      histogram:
         value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
+        bucket_boundaries:
+          [
+            10,
+            25,
+            50,
+            75,
+            100,
+            250,
+            500,
+            750,
+            1000,
+            2000,
+            3000,
+            4000,
+            5000,
+            6000,
+          ]
 
-    exporter_enqueue_failed_metric_points:
+    exporter_queue_capacity:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of metric points failed to be added to the sending queue.
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
-      sum:
+      description: Fixed capacity of the retry queue (in batches).
+      unit: "{batches}"
+      gauge:
         value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
+        async: true
 
-    exporter_sent_log_records:
+    exporter_queue_size:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of log record successfully sent to destination.
-      unit: "{records}"
-      sum:
+      description: Current size of the retry queue (in batches).
+      unit: "{batches}"
+      gauge:
         value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
+        async: true
 
     exporter_send_failed_log_records:
       enabled: true
@@ -93,48 +129,52 @@ telemetry:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_enqueue_failed_log_records:
+    exporter_send_failed_metric_points:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of log records failed to be added to the sending queue.
-      unit: "{records}"
+      description: Number of metric points in failed attempts to send to destination.
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_queue_size:
+    exporter_send_failed_spans:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Current size of the retry queue (in batches).
-      unit: "{batches}"
-      gauge:
+      description: Number of spans in failed attempts to send to destination.
+      unit: "{spans}"
+      sum:
         value_type: int
-        async: true
+        monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_queue_batch_send_size:
+    exporter_sent_log_records:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of units in the batch
-      unit: "{units}"
-      histogram:
+      stability:
+        level: alpha
+      description: Number of log record successfully sent to destination.
+      unit: "{records}"
+      sum:
         value_type: int
-        bucket_boundaries: [ 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 20000, 30000, 50000, 100000 ]
+        monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_queue_batch_send_size_bytes:
+    exporter_sent_metric_points:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of bytes in batch that was sent. Only available on detailed level.
-      unit: By
-      histogram:
+      stability:
+        level: alpha
+      description: Number of metric points successfully sent to destination.
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
+      sum:
         value_type: int
-        bucket_boundaries: [ 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 ]
+        monotonic: true
 
-    exporter_queue_capacity:
+    exporter_sent_spans:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Fixed capacity of the retry queue (in batches).
-      unit: "{batches}"
-      gauge:
+      description: Number of spans successfully sent to destination.
+      unit: "{spans}"
+      sum:
         value_type: int
-        async: true
+        monotonic: true
diff --git a/processor/batchprocessor/metadata.yaml b/processor/batchprocessor/metadata.yaml
index fa9bb713df63..127322310050 100644
--- a/processor/batchprocessor/metadata.yaml
+++ b/processor/batchprocessor/metadata.yaml
@@ -5,41 +5,99 @@ status:
   disable_codecov_badge: true
   class: processor
   stability:
-    beta: [ traces, metrics, logs ]
-  distributions: [ core, contrib, k8s ]
+    beta: [traces, metrics, logs]
+  distributions: [core, contrib, k8s]
 
 tests:
 
 telemetry:
   metrics:
-    processor_batch_batch_size_trigger_send:
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of times the batch was sent due to a size trigger
-      unit: "{times}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
-    processor_batch_timeout_trigger_send:
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of times the batch was sent due to a timeout trigger
-      unit: "{times}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
     processor_batch_batch_send_size:
       enabled: true
       description: Number of units in the batch
       unit: "{units}"
       histogram:
         value_type: int
-        bucket_boundaries: [ 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 20000, 30000, 50000, 100000 ]
+        bucket_boundaries:
+          [
+            10,
+            25,
+            50,
+            75,
+            100,
+            250,
+            500,
+            750,
+            1000,
+            2000,
+            3000,
+            4000,
+            5000,
+            6000,
+            7000,
+            8000,
+            9000,
+            10000,
+            20000,
+            30000,
+            50000,
+            100000,
+          ]
     processor_batch_batch_send_size_bytes:
       enabled: true
       description: Number of bytes in batch that was sent. Only available on detailed level.
       unit: By
       histogram:
         value_type: int
-        bucket_boundaries: [ 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 20000, 30000, 50000, 100_000, 200_000, 300_000, 400_000, 500_000, 600_000, 700_000, 800_000, 900_000, 1000_000, 2000_000, 3000_000, 4000_000, 5000_000, 6000_000, 7000_000, 8000_000, 9000_000 ]
+        bucket_boundaries:
+          [
+            10,
+            25,
+            50,
+            75,
+            100,
+            250,
+            500,
+            750,
+            1000,
+            2000,
+            3000,
+            4000,
+            5000,
+            6000,
+            7000,
+            8000,
+            9000,
+            10000,
+            20000,
+            30000,
+            50000,
+            100_000,
+            200_000,
+            300_000,
+            400_000,
+            500_000,
+            600_000,
+            700_000,
+            800_000,
+            900_000,
+            1000_000,
+            2000_000,
+            3000_000,
+            4000_000,
+            5000_000,
+            6000_000,
+            7000_000,
+            8000_000,
+            9000_000,
+          ]
+    processor_batch_batch_size_trigger_send:
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of times the batch was sent due to a size trigger
+      unit: "{times}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
     processor_batch_metadata_cardinality:
       enabled: true
       description: Number of distinct metadata value combinations being processed
@@ -47,3 +105,10 @@ telemetry:
       sum:
         value_type: int
         async: true
+    processor_batch_timeout_trigger_send:
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of times the batch was sent due to a timeout trigger
+      unit: "{times}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
diff --git a/processor/memorylimiterprocessor/metadata.yaml b/processor/memorylimiterprocessor/metadata.yaml
index 2b73072a2f03..aa8813f1eaf7 100644
--- a/processor/memorylimiterprocessor/metadata.yaml
+++ b/processor/memorylimiterprocessor/metadata.yaml
@@ -17,68 +17,68 @@ tests:
 
 telemetry:
   metrics:
-    processor_accepted_spans:
+    processor_accepted_log_records:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of spans successfully pushed into the next component in the pipeline.
+      description: Number of log records successfully pushed into the next component in the pipeline.
       stability:
         level: deprecated
         from: v0.110.0
-      unit: "{spans}"
+      unit: "{records}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    processor_refused_spans:
+    processor_accepted_metric_points:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of spans that were rejected by the next component in the pipeline.
+      description: Number of metric points successfully pushed into the next component in the pipeline.
       stability:
         level: deprecated
         from: v0.110.0
-      unit: "{spans}"
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    processor_accepted_metric_points:
+    processor_accepted_spans:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of metric points successfully pushed into the next component in the pipeline.
+      description: Number of spans successfully pushed into the next component in the pipeline.
       stability:
         level: deprecated
         from: v0.110.0
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
+      unit: "{spans}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    processor_refused_metric_points:
+    processor_refused_log_records:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of metric points that were rejected by the next component in the pipeline.
+      description: Number of log records that were rejected by the next component in the pipeline.
       stability:
         level: deprecated
         from: v0.110.0
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
+      unit: "{records}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    processor_accepted_log_records:
+    processor_refused_metric_points:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of log records successfully pushed into the next component in the pipeline.
+      description: Number of metric points that were rejected by the next component in the pipeline.
       stability:
         level: deprecated
         from: v0.110.0
-      unit: "{records}"
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    processor_refused_log_records:
+    processor_refused_spans:
       enabled: true
-      description: Number of log records that were rejected by the next component in the pipeline.
+      description: Number of spans that were rejected by the next component in the pipeline.
       stability:
         level: deprecated
         from: v0.110.0
-      unit: "{records}"
+      unit: "{spans}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
diff --git a/processor/processorhelper/metadata.yaml b/processor/processorhelper/metadata.yaml
index 89f2775dd2ee..97b9e594a1cd 100644
--- a/processor/processorhelper/metadata.yaml
+++ b/processor/processorhelper/metadata.yaml
@@ -19,16 +19,6 @@ telemetry:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    processor_outgoing_items:
-      enabled: true
-      stability:
-        level: alpha
-      description: Number of items emitted from the processor.
-      unit: "{items}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
-
     processor_internal_duration:
       enabled: true
       stability:
@@ -38,3 +28,13 @@ telemetry:
       histogram:
         async: false
         value_type: double
+
+    processor_outgoing_items:
+      enabled: true
+      stability:
+        level: alpha
+      description: Number of items emitted from the processor.
+      unit: "{items}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
diff --git a/receiver/receiverhelper/metadata.yaml b/receiver/receiverhelper/metadata.yaml
index 5d19ac537d68..e5854f996b53 100644
--- a/receiver/receiverhelper/metadata.yaml
+++ b/receiver/receiverhelper/metadata.yaml
@@ -7,84 +7,84 @@ status:
     beta: [metrics, traces, logs]
 telemetry:
   metrics:
-    receiver_accepted_spans:
+    receiver_accepted_log_records:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of spans successfully pushed into the pipeline.
-      unit: "{spans}"
+      description: Number of log records successfully pushed into the pipeline.
+      unit: "{records}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_refused_spans:
-      enabled: true
+    receiver_accepted_metric_points:
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of spans that could not be pushed into the pipeline.
-      unit: "{spans}"
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of metric points successfully pushed into the pipeline.
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_failed_spans:
+    receiver_accepted_spans:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: The number of spans that failed to be processed by the receiver due to internal errors.
+      description: Number of spans successfully pushed into the pipeline.
       unit: "{spans}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_accepted_metric_points:
+    receiver_failed_log_records:
+      enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of metric points successfully pushed into the pipeline.
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
+      description: The number of log records that failed to be processed by the receiver due to internal errors.
+      unit: "{records}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_refused_metric_points:
+    receiver_failed_metric_points:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of metric points that could not be pushed into the pipeline.
+      description: The number of metric points that failed to be processed by the receiver due to internal errors.
       unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_failed_metric_points:
+    receiver_failed_spans:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: The number of metric points that failed to be processed by the receiver due to internal errors.
-      unit: "{datapoints}"
+      description: The number of spans that failed to be processed by the receiver due to internal errors.
+      unit: "{spans}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_accepted_log_records:
+    receiver_refused_log_records:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of log records successfully pushed into the pipeline.
+      description: Number of log records that could not be pushed into the pipeline.
       unit: "{records}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_refused_log_records:
+    receiver_refused_metric_points:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of log records that could not be pushed into the pipeline.
-      unit: "{records}"
+      description: Number of metric points that could not be pushed into the pipeline.
+      unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    receiver_failed_log_records:
+    receiver_refused_spans:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: The number of log records that failed to be processed by the receiver due to internal errors.
-      unit: "{records}"
+      description: Number of spans that could not be pushed into the pipeline.
+      unit: "{spans}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
diff --git a/scraper/scraperhelper/metadata.yaml b/scraper/scraperhelper/metadata.yaml
index 74ca910307cc..6963d5751d64 100644
--- a/scraper/scraperhelper/metadata.yaml
+++ b/scraper/scraperhelper/metadata.yaml
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ status:
 
 telemetry:
   metrics:
-    scraper_scraped_metric_points:
+    scraper_errored_log_records:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of metric points successfully scraped.
+      description: Number of log records that were unable to be scraped.
       unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@ telemetry:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
 
-    scraper_errored_log_records:
+    scraper_scraped_metric_points:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Number of log records that were unable to be scraped.
+      description: Number of metric points successfully scraped.
       unit: "{datapoints}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
diff --git a/service/metadata.yaml b/service/metadata.yaml
index 53f1a66836d5..344b7e587c32 100644
--- a/service/metadata.yaml
+++ b/service/metadata.yaml
@@ -10,17 +10,81 @@ status:
 
 telemetry:
   metrics:
-    process_uptime:
+    connector.consumed.items:
+      prefix: otelcol.
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of items passed to the connector.
+      unit: "{item}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
+
+    connector.consumed.size:
+      prefix: otelcol.
+      enabled: false
+      description: Size of items passed to the connector, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      unit: "{item}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
+
+    connector.produced.items:
+      prefix: otelcol.
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of items emitted from the connector.
+      unit: "{item}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
+
+    connector.produced.size:
+      prefix: otelcol.
+      enabled: false
+      description: Size of items emitted from the connector, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      unit: "{item}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
+
+    exporter.consumed.items:
+      prefix: otelcol.
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of items passed to the exporter.
+      unit: "{item}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
+
+    exporter.consumed.size:
+      prefix: otelcol.
+      enabled: false
+      description: Size of items passed to the exporter, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      unit: "{item}"
+      sum:
+        value_type: int
+        monotonic: true
+
+    process_cpu_seconds:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Uptime of the process
+      description: Total CPU user and system time in seconds
       unit: s
       sum:
         async: true
         value_type: double
         monotonic: true
 
+    process_memory_rss:
+      enabled: true
+      stability:
+        level: alpha
+      description: Total physical memory (resident set size)
+      unit: By
+      gauge:
+        async: true
+        value_type: int
+
     process_runtime_heap_alloc_bytes:
       enabled: true
       stability:
@@ -52,35 +116,17 @@ telemetry:
         async: true
         value_type: int
 
-    process_cpu_seconds:
+    process_uptime:
       enabled: true
       stability:
         level: alpha
-      description: Total CPU user and system time in seconds
+      description: Uptime of the process
       unit: s
       sum:
         async: true
         value_type: double
         monotonic: true
 
-    process_memory_rss:
-      enabled: true
-      stability:
-        level: alpha
-      description: Total physical memory (resident set size)
-      unit: By
-      gauge:
-        async: true
-        value_type: int
-
-    receiver.produced.items:
-      prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of items emitted from the receiver.
-      unit: "{item}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
     processor.consumed.items:
       prefix: otelcol.
       enabled: true
@@ -89,47 +135,7 @@ telemetry:
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    processor.produced.items:
-      prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of items emitted from the processor.
-      unit: "{item}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
-    connector.consumed.items:
-      prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of items passed to the connector.
-      unit: "{item}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
-    connector.produced.items:
-      prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of items emitted from the connector.
-      unit: "{item}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
-    exporter.consumed.items:
-      prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: true
-      description: Number of items passed to the exporter.
-      unit: "{item}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
 
-    receiver.produced.size:
-      prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: false
-      description: Size of items emitted from the receiver, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
-      unit: "{item}"
-      sum:
-        value_type: int
-        monotonic: true
     processor.consumed.size:
       prefix: otelcol.
       enabled: false
@@ -138,34 +144,38 @@ telemetry:
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    processor.produced.size:
+
+    processor.produced.items:
       prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: false
-      description: Size of items emitted from the processor, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of items emitted from the processor.
       unit: "{item}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    connector.consumed.size:
+
+    processor.produced.size:
       prefix: otelcol.
       enabled: false
-      description: Size of items passed to the connector, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      description: Size of items emitted from the processor, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
       unit: "{item}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    connector.produced.size:
+
+    receiver.produced.items:
       prefix: otelcol.
-      enabled: false
-      description: Size of items emitted from the connector, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      enabled: true
+      description: Number of items emitted from the receiver.
       unit: "{item}"
       sum:
         value_type: int
         monotonic: true
-    exporter.consumed.size:
+
+    receiver.produced.size:
       prefix: otelcol.
       enabled: false
-      description: Size of items passed to the exporter, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
+      description: Size of items emitted from the receiver, based on ProtoMarshaler.Sizer.
       unit: "{item}"
       sum:
         value_type: int