EXIF
A metadata standard embedded in images by cameras and smartphones. Contains shooting parameters and GPS data.
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is an image metadata standard developed and revised by JEITA and CIPA. It embeds shooting conditions and device information into captured images automatically. As of September 2026 the latest edition is Exif 3.1 (CIPA DC-008-Translation-2026, published in January 2026, issued by CIPA and jointly worked on with JEITA), while implementations built around the long-standing 2.3 series (2.32, 2019) remain in use. It is stored in JPEG, TIFF, and HEIF files.
Major EXIF data categories:
- Shooting parameters: Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focal length, exposure compensation, metering mode
- Device information: Camera manufacturer, model, lens, firmware version
- Date and time: Capture time (DateTimeOriginal), digitization time, with sub-second precision
- GPS data: Latitude, longitude, altitude, shooting direction
- Image characteristics: Orientation tag, color space, resolution
The Orientation tag is critical - smartphone photos may have pixel arrangements differing from display orientation, so an image can appear in an unintended orientation - rotated 90 degrees, for instance - when the tag is ignored. EXIF is also written by the capturing device and can be lost when a file is re-saved in an editor or captured as a screenshot, so do not assume timestamps and device fields will always survive.
For privacy, GPS-tagged images published online risk exposing locations. Stripping EXIF before web publication removes that risk and trims file size slightly. Many social platforms also drop most EXIF on upload, but what they remove varies by service and upload path, so removing it yourself is the reliable option. Conversely, Copyright and Artist tags serve as rights management for professional assets.