EXIFstandardi

EXIFstandardi, commonly known as the EXIF standard, is a metadata specification embedded in image files, especially JPEG and TIFF, to record information about how a photograph was captured. It was developed to accompany the image data and is widely adopted by cameras and software.

Implementation and structure: The metadata is stored in a TIFF-based format inside the file, typically in the APP1 segment of JPEG images, organized as Image File Directories (IFDs) containing tags for fields such as Make, Model, DateTimeOriginal, ExposureTime, FNumber, ISO, FocalLength, Flash, MeteringMode, WhiteBalance, and GPSInfo. The standard defines both the tag identifiers and the data types used for these values.

Relationship and usage: EXIF data can coexist with other metadata standards like IPTC and XMP, and many tools can read and edit EXIF as part of photo management workflows. It is widely implemented across consumer and professional cameras and image editors, though implementations vary.

Privacy and security: Because EXIF often contains location data and precise timestamps, it is possible to reveal sensitive information when sharing images online. Users may choose to strip or anonymize EXIF data before publishing.