A system and method for pruning data based on metadata. The method may include receiving a query that includes a plurality of predicates and identifying one or more applicable files including database data satisfying at least one of the plurality of predicates. The identifying the one or more applicable files including reading metadata stored in a metadata store that is separate from the database data. The method further includes pruning inapplicable files comprising database data that does not satisfy at least one of the plurality of predicates to create a reduced set of files and reading the reduced set of files to execute the query.