File metadata is embedded information about a file — such as creation date, author, dimensions, and technical settings — stored alongside the actual content.
File metadata is structured information embedded within a file that describes properties of the file itself rather than its visible content. For images, this includes dimensions, color space, camera settings (EXIF), GPS location, creation date, and software used. For documents, metadata may include author name, organization, revision history, and creation/modification timestamps. For audio and video, it includes codec, bitrate, duration, and tags like artist and album. Metadata is valuable for organization and workflow, but it can also be a privacy concern — sharing a photo with embedded GPS coordinates reveals where it was taken. During file conversion, metadata handling varies: some converters preserve all metadata, some strip it, and some allow selective retention.
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a standard for storing camera settings, GPS location, and technical details inside photo files.
An ICC color profile is a standardized data set that describes how a device (monitor, printer, camera) reproduces colors, ensuring consistent color across workflows.
A codec (coder-decoder) is an algorithm that compresses and decompresses audio or video data, determining the quality, file size, and compatibility of media files.
OCR is a technology that extracts machine-readable text from images, scanned documents, and PDFs, enabling search and editing of printed content.