Metadata is data about data. In photography, metadata is the information embedded in an image file that describes the image: camera settings, date and time, location, copyright, and keywords. EXIF is one type of metadata. IPTC is another, used for captions, credits, and keywords. XMP is a third, used by Adobe software for editing history and ratings. Metadata travels with the image file and can be read by most editing and organizing software.

Metadata is useful for organization. A photographer can search for all images taken with a specific lens, on a specific date, or at a specific location. It is useful for attribution. Copyright and credit information can be embedded in the file. It is useful for editing. Editing software can read the camera settings and apply corrections. But metadata can also be lost. Social media platforms often strip metadata when images are uploaded. Some editing software removes it by default. Photographers who care about metadata should check their export settings and use software that preserves it.

Types of metadata

• EXIF. Camera settings, date, GPS.
• IPTC. Captions, credits, keywords.
• XMP. Editing history, ratings, labels.
• Descriptive. Title, description, and keywords.
• Rights. Copyright and usage terms.

Metadata is not visible in the image. It is behind the scenes. But it shapes how images are found, used, and credited.