EXIF Viewer & Editor
Inspect, inline-edit, clear, and clean image metadata (EXIF, GPS). Export with stripped metadata, keep original tags, or apply your edits. View details, map, and JSON.Exported Image
| Field | Value | Edit | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| {{ row.label }} |
{{ row.value }}
|
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Introduction:
Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) stores camera settings, capture time, device model, and optional GPS coordinates inside image files. These tags travel with photographs and may reveal context unintentionally. Managing metadata helps you document authorship accurately, diagnose capture issues, and reduce personal information exposure when publishing pictures to social feeds, marketplaces, portfolios, or client handoffs.
This tool reads image metadata in your browser, presents a structured summary, a map for GPS coordinates, and a compact JSON view. You select export format and quality, choose a metadata mode—strip, keep, or apply edits—and optionally normalise orientation. Inline table editing lets you update common tags such as description, author, copyright, date taken, lens, and location before exporting.
Use it before sharing a house listing or holiday photo: remove GPS, verify the timestamp, and add copyright. Product photographers can correct lens or author fields to streamline catalog workflows. Metadata does not replace releases, warranties, or legal notices; confirm organisational policies before distributing images externally.
Technical Details:
Concept Overview
EXIF is a tag-based standard embedded in image containers. Tags are organised into image, EXIF, and GPS directories, carrying values such as exposure time, aperture, ISO, orientation, and decimal GPS coordinates. Many numeric values are stored as rational numbers. JPEG commonly stores EXIF in an APP1 segment; other formats allow metadata through different profiles, so persistence across conversions varies.
Core Process
- Parse metadata from the uploaded file and summarise fields into a readable table and JSON payload.
- If chosen, normalise orientation by applying the orientation flag to pixel data.
- Provide three metadata modes: strip all, keep original, or apply user edits to selected tags.
- Allow edits to common fields: description, author, copyright, software, camera, lens, date taken, and GPS.
- Render GPS on a map for quick validation when coordinates are present or supplied.
- Export the image in the selected format and quality, writing updated metadata where supported.
Interpretation & Output Semantics
| Mode | Meaning | Metadata effect |
|---|---|---|
| Strip all | Remove embedded tags on export. | Privacy-focused output without EXIF/GPS. |
| Keep original | Preserve parsed tags as-is. | All fields written when the format supports it. |
| Apply edits | Write modified values for selected fields. | Only edited fields change; others may be omitted or preserved. |
| Format | Typical use | Metadata support |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Photos with adjustable quality. | Full EXIF writing and reading available. |
| PNG | Graphics and screenshots. | Limited fields; writing support varies; lossless pixels. |
| WebP | Web delivery with strong compression. | Metadata can exist but support is inconsistent across viewers. |
Variables & Parameters
| Parameter | Meaning | Unit/Datatype | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export format | Output container for the image. | Enum | JPEG · PNG · WebP | EXIF writing is reliable with JPEG. |
| Quality | Compression level for lossy formats. | Percent | 60–95 | Higher values increase size; PNG is lossless. |
| Auto-rotate | Applies orientation to pixels. | Boolean | On/Off | Prevents sideways images after export. |
| Metadata mode | Policy for EXIF handling. | Enum | Strip · Keep · Edit | “Edit” writes only supported tags. |
| Inline edits | New values for common tags. | Text/Number/Datetime | — | Author, description, copyright, lens, date. |
| GPS | Latitude, longitude, altitude. | Decimal degrees / metres | Lat −90–90 · Lng −180–180 | Shown on a map when available. |
Worked Example: GPS DMS encoding for EXIF
Convert latitude 37.4219999° to degrees-minutes-seconds used by EXIF rational fields.
Repeat for longitude −122.0840575° using ref=W. Seconds are stored as rationals; precision depends on chosen denominator.
Assumptions & Limitations
- EXIF writing targets JPEG; other formats may not persist all fields surprise.
- Orientation normalisation changes pixel data; original orientation flag is not preserved.
- Timezone is not encoded unless you include it in text fields; clocks may drift.
- GPS accuracy reflects the source device; indoor or edited coordinates may be unreliable.
- Some viewers ignore nonstandard or extended tags.
Edge Cases & Error Sources
- Images without metadata show only file facts; editing starts from blank values.
- Corrupted tag structures can be partially parsed, producing missing or odd values.
- Very large images may exhaust memory on low-end devices during export.
- Uncommon colour profiles may be dropped by downstream viewers.
- Decimal GPS values outside valid ranges are rejected or clamped.
Scientific Validity & References
EXIF behaviour follows the JEITA EXIF specification; JPEG stores metadata in APP1. TIFF/EP and related standards define tag structures and rational encodings. GPS coordinates typically use the WGS-84 datum. IPTC and XMP provide complementary metadata domains frequently carried alongside EXIF, though persistence varies by container and viewer.
Privacy & Compliance
Image metadata can contain personal data such as precise location and author names; ensure handling aligns with data-protection laws such as GDPR or CCPA.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Follow these steps to inspect, clean, or edit metadata and export a privacy-aware image.
- Open a photo. The tool parses metadata and shows a summary, map, and JSON.
- Choose Export format and, if lossy, set Quality.
- Toggle Auto-rotate if the source appears sideways.
- Select Metadata mode: Strip, Keep, or Edit. In Edit mode, update fields inline or add GPS.
- Review the preview information; confirm dimensions and estimated size.
- Export and save the new file for sharing or archiving.
FAQ:
What is EXIF?
EXIF is a standard set of tags embedded in image files, recording camera settings, capture time, device model, and optional GPS coordinates.
Why do some formats lose metadata?
Containers differ in how they carry tags. JPEG retains EXIF reliably; PNG and WebP may support only subsets, so fields can be omitted on conversion.
Can I edit inline from the table?
Yes. Switch to Edit mode and change values directly in the table. Save per row to apply updates to the export.
Does auto-rotate change pixels?
Yes. The orientation flag is applied to the bitmap during export, producing an upright image that displays consistently across viewers.
Is my data stored?
No. Files are processed locally in your browser; nothing is uploaded to a server.
Why are GPS fields missing?
The source may not include location tags or they were previously stripped. You can add coordinates manually in Edit mode if needed.
Can I batch-process photos?
This tool works on one image at a time. For bulk workflows, repeat the process or use a dedicated desktop pipeline.
Troubleshooting:
- Photo opens sideways → enable Auto-rotate and re-export.
- Edited fields do not appear → confirm Edit mode and export as JPEG.
- Map is blank → verify GPS ranges; latitude −90–90, longitude −180–180.
- Exported file seems large → reduce quality or choose WebP for delivery.
- Viewer still shows old data → clear viewer cache and reopen the new file.
Advanced Tips:
- Tip: Use Strip mode for social media to avoid leaking location or device details.
- Tip: Standardise author and copyright fields to simplify downstream cataloging.
- Tip: Keep originals unmodified; export cleaned copies for distribution.
- Tip: Record accurate capture times when shooting across timezones to align projects.
- Tip: When adding GPS, verify coordinates on the map before exporting.
Glossary:
- EXIF
- A standard set of image metadata tags.
- IPTC
- Publishing metadata such as captions and rights.
- XMP
- Extensible metadata format used by many tools.
- Orientation
- Flag indicating how an image should be rotated.
- DateTimeOriginal
- Timestamp when the photo was captured.
- GPS DMS
- Degrees, minutes, seconds representation of location.
- Lossy
- Compression that discards data to reduce size.
- Lossless
- Compression preserving exact pixel data.