Sidecartiedostoina

Sidecar-tiedostoina, or sidecar files, are separate data files that accompany a primary media file such as a photo, video, or audio recording to store metadata, captions, annotations, or other auxiliary information. They are designed to keep metadata apart from the media data itself, enabling non-destructive edits and easier sharing across software that may not support embedding metadata in all formats. In Finnish contexts these are commonly referred to as sidecar-tiedostoina.

Common sidecar formats and examples include XMP (.xmp) for metadata in photography workflows, as well as JSON or XML metadata files. For video and audio, subtitle or caption sidecars are common, with formats such as SubRip (.srt) and WebVTT (.vtt). In photography, XMP sidecars can store IPTC and XMP metadata for RAW files, while the original RAW or JPEG files may not contain all metadata. In video, subtitles and captions are typically stored in separate files linked to the media.

Advantages of sidecar files include non-destructive editing, compatibility with RAW workflows, and easier sharing without modifying the original media. Disadvantages can include the risk of sidecar files becoming misplaced or out of sync if the media is moved or renamed, and the fact that some software does not read or write sidecars by default, requiring careful management of multiple files.

Managing sidecar files involves using metadata editors and media managers that preserve sidecars during exports and transfers. Privacy considerations should be kept in mind, as sidecar metadata can include GPS coordinates or author information that may be sensitive when sharing media publicly.