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Developer ToolsUpdated 2025-04-11

File Metadata Viewer: Read EXIF, Size, Type, and Hidden Data From Any File

Upload any file and instantly see its metadata: EXIF tags for photos, MIME type, dimensions, file size, creation date, and more. Everything stays local in your browser.

Introduction

Every file on your computer carries hidden information that most people never see. A JPEG from your phone stores the camera model, GPS coordinates, shutter speed, and ISO. A PDF contains the author name and the software used to create it. Our File Metadata Viewer reads this hidden data from any file you drop into it and displays it in a clean, browsable format. Since processing happens entirely in your browser, your files are never uploaded anywhere, which matters a lot when you are inspecting sensitive documents.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Drop or select your file

Drag any file onto the upload zone or click to browse. The tool accepts images (JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF), documents (PDF), audio files, video files, and more.

2

Browse the metadata

The results panel shows general info (file name, size, MIME type, last modified date) at the top, followed by format-specific data. For images, you get EXIF tags like camera model, exposure settings, and GPS coordinates if present.

3

Copy or download the data

Click any value to copy it, or use the "Copy All" button to grab the full metadata as JSON. This is useful when documenting assets or filing bug reports that require exact file specifications.

Pro Tips & Best Practices

Pro Tip

Before posting photos online, check for GPS metadata. Your smartphone embeds your exact location in every photo by default. Most social platforms strip this data, but not all do.

Pro Tip

Developers working with image CDNs should check MIME types carefully. A file named "photo.png" might actually be a JPEG with a wrong extension, which can cause rendering issues in some browsers.

Pro Tip

For photography professionals, EXIF data is a learning goldmine. Drop in photos from photographers you admire and see exactly what aperture, shutter speed, and ISO they used.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Common Mistake to AvoidAssuming all metadata is accurate. The "created date" on a file is often the date it was last copied or downloaded, not when the original content was created.
Common Mistake to AvoidNot stripping metadata before sharing sensitive images. An innocent-looking photo can reveal your home address through embedded GPS tags.
Common Mistake to AvoidExpecting every file type to have rich metadata. Plain text files and some compressed formats carry minimal to no metadata beyond basic file system info.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EXIF data?

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. It is a standard that defines the metadata embedded in images by cameras and smartphones, including settings like aperture, focal length, date taken, and sometimes GPS location.

Can I edit or remove metadata with this tool?

This tool is read-only. It shows you what metadata exists but does not modify the file. To strip metadata, you would need an image editor or a command-line tool like ExifTool.

Does the tool read metadata from video files?

It reads basic metadata like file size, MIME type, and duration where available. Full video metadata (codec, bitrate, frame rate) depends on browser support for the specific container format.

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