Orientation Tag
An EXIF metadata field (Tag 0x0112) that specifies how image pixels should be rotated or flipped for correct display orientation.
The Orientation tag is an integer value (1-8) stored in EXIF data at Tag 0x0112, defining the relationship between pixel storage order and intended display orientation. When a smartphone captures a portrait photo, pixels are physically stored in landscape orientation, and the Orientation value (e.g., 6 = 90° clockwise) instructs viewers to rotate accordingly.
Issues arise when software ignores this tag, causing photos to appear sideways or upside-down. Modern web browsers handle it via CSS image-orientation: from-image (now the default behavior).
When stripping EXIF with the EXIF removal tool, it is critical to physically rotate the pixel data before removing the tag. Otherwise, the image becomes permanently fixed in the wrong orientation. Lossless JPEG rotation solves this without recompression.