XMPMetadaten

XMP metadata, short for Extensible Metadata Platform, is a technology developed by Adobe that provides a standardized way to store and exchange metadata about digital media. Introduced to enable consistent labeling across different applications and file formats, XMP uses a flexible, XML-based data model to describe information such as titles, creators, rights, subjects, and technical properties.

Technically, XMP is built on RDF (Resource Description Framework) expressed in XML. Metadata can be embedded directly inside a file as an XMP packet or stored in an accompanying sidecar file with the .xmp extension, allowing metadata to accompany files that do not inherently support embedded data. This separation also facilitates metadata preservation during format conversions and workflow steps.

XMP relies on a system of namespaces to organize properties. Common namespaces include Dublin Core (for general bibliographic data like title and creator), EXIF and TIFF (camera and imaging data), IPTC Core (journalistic metadata), and Photoshop, among others. This structure enables interoperability by enabling software from different vendors to read and write the same labeled information in a consistent way.

Applications of XMP span photography, publishing, archiving, and multimedia workflows. It is widely supported by professional image editors, digital asset management systems, PDF workflows, and many open-source tools such as ExifTool. XMP metadata supports both embedded metadata and sidecar files, which helps preserve metadata through edits and transfers, though it also raises considerations about privacy, since location data and rights information may be embedded and shared unintentionally.