Examples of Metadata: A Complete Guide

Last updated: April 2026

Quick answer: Metadata is data that describes other data. Common examples include the date a photo was taken, the author of a document, or the title of a web page.

Metadata is everywhere. It hides inside your photos, documents, and websites. You don't see it — but it shapes how files are found, shared, and understood.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly what metadata looks like. We cover image metadata, document metadata, web metadata, and more. Each example is practical and real.

What Is Metadata? A Simple Definition

In brief: Metadata is structured information that describes, explains, or locates another piece of data.

Think of it as a label on a box. The box contains your photo. The label tells you what's inside, when it was packed, and where it came from.

Metadata is not visible in the file itself. It lives in a separate layer. Every digital file — images, videos, PDFs, web pages — carries some form of metadata.

According to the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (2024), metadata can describe a resource's content, context, and structure. These three categories cover nearly all use cases.

Good to know: The word "metadata" comes from the Greek prefix meta (meaning "about") and the Latin word data (meaning "given"). So metadata literally means "data about data."

Examples of Metadata in Images (EXIF, IPTC, XMP)

In brief: Image metadata includes technical camera settings, author credits, and copyright information — stored in three main formats: EXIF, IPTC, and XMP.

Image files are the richest source of metadata. A single JPEG can hold dozens of data fields. Here is how the three main standards compare:

(Source: IPTC.org, 2024)

EXIF Metadata Examples

EXIF data is created automatically by your camera or phone. You don't enter it — it's recorded for you.

Common EXIF fields include:

1. Camera make and model — e.g., "Canon EOS R6"
2. Date and time taken — e.g., "2026-03-15 14:32:07"
3. GPS coordinates — e.g., "30.4278° N, 9.5981° W" (Agadir, Morocco)
4. Shutter speed — e.g., "1/500s"
5. Aperture (f-stop) — e.g., "f/2.8"
6. ISO sensitivity — e.g., "ISO 400"
7. Focal length — e.g., "50mm"
8. Flash status — e.g., "Flash fired"
9. Image dimensions — e.g., "4000 × 3000 px"
10. Orientation — e.g., "Landscape"

You can view all of these with our EXIF viewer. No software needed.

Good to know: GPS metadata is a serious privacy risk. Sharing a photo with GPS data reveals your exact location. Use our EXIF remover to strip location data before posting online.

IPTC Metadata Examples

IPTC metadata is added manually. Journalists and photographers use it to tag editorial content.

Common IPTC fields include:

1. Title — "Sunset over the Atlas Mountains"
2. Caption/Description — A short description of the image
3. Keywords — "landscape, Morocco, sunset, travel"
4. Author/Creator — "John Smith"
5. Copyright notice — "© 2026 John Smith. All rights reserved."
6. Credit line — "Photo by John Smith / Exif Injector"
7. City, State, Country — "Agadir, Souss-Massa, Morocco"
8. Category — "Travel"

IPTC keywords help platforms like Adobe Stock and Shutterstock index your photos correctly. Poor IPTC data means fewer views.

XMP Metadata Examples

XMP was created by Adobe. It stores metadata in XML format inside the file. It is more flexible than EXIF or IPTC.

Common XMP fields include:

1. dc:title — Document title
2. dc:creator — Author name
3. dc:rights — Copyright statement
4. dc:subject — Keywords list
5. xmp:CreateDate — File creation date
6. xmp:ModifyDate — Last edit date
7. xmp:Rating — Star rating (1–5)
8. photoshop:ColorMode — Color profile used

XMP is the standard used by Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. According to Adobe (2024), XMP is now the recommended format for all professional image workflows.

At Exif Injector, we process over 200,000 images per month. We see firsthand how XMP metadata affects discoverability on stock platforms and e-commerce sites.

Use our bulk EXIF editor to add XMP data to hundreds of images at once.

Examples of Metadata in Documents

In brief: Documents like PDFs, Word files, and spreadsheets store metadata including the author name, creation date, software used, and revision history.

Document metadata is often overlooked. But it can reveal sensitive information — especially in legal or corporate files.

Common document metadata fields:

1. Title — The document's official title
2. Author — Name of the creator
3. Last modified by — Name of the last editor
4. Creation date — When the file was first saved
5. Modification date — When the file was last changed
6. Software — e.g., "Microsoft Word 365"
7. Number of revisions — How many times it was edited
8. Total editing time — Time spent writing the document
9. Word count — Number of words in the file
10. Company name — Pulled from the software license

According to Microsoft (2024), all Office documents automatically embed author and company metadata based on your Windows account settings.

Good to know: Before sending a legal document, always check its metadata. A leaked author name or revision history can expose confidential information.

Examples of Metadata on the Web

In brief: Web metadata includes HTML meta tags, Open Graph data, and structured data that help search engines and social platforms understand a page.

Web metadata is written in HTML. It lives in the <head> section of a webpage. Users don't see it — but Google, ChatGPT, and social platforms read it constantly.

HTML Meta Tag Examples

html

Open Graph Metadata Examples

Open Graph tags control how your page appears when shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.

html

Schema.org Structured Data Examples

Schema markup is JSON-LD code that helps Google understand your content. It powers rich snippets in search results.

Common Schema types include: Article, FAQPage, Product, BreadcrumbList, and Organization.

(Source: Schema.org, 2024)

Examples of Metadata in Audio and Video Files {#audio-video-metadata}

In brief: Audio files store artist, album, and track data. Video files store codec, resolution, duration, and geolocation.

Audio Metadata (ID3 Tags)

MP3 and other audio files use ID3 tags. Common fields:

1. Title — "Dark Side of the Moon"
2. Artist — "Pink Floyd"
3. Album — Studio album name
4. Track number — Position in the album
5. Year — Release year
6. Genre — "Rock"
7. Cover art — Embedded album artwork
8. BPM — Beats per minute
9. Lyrics — Embedded lyric text

Video Metadata Examples

Video files like MP4 or MOV store:

1. Duration — e.g., "1:42:30"
2. Frame rate — e.g., "24 fps"
3. Resolution — e.g., "3840 × 2160 (4K)"
4. Codec — e.g., "H.264"
5. Audio channels — Stereo or surround
6. Creation date — When the file was recorded
7. GPS location — Where the video was shot
8. Camera model — Device used to record

According to Statista (2025), over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Each file carries video metadata that affects how it is indexed and recommended.

Why Metadata Matters for SEO and Privacy

In brief: Metadata helps search engines rank your content and helps platforms index your images — but it can also expose private information if not managed correctly.

Metadata and SEO

Good metadata directly improves your search rankings. Here's how:

1. Image EXIF data signals content relevance to Google Image Search
2. IPTC keywords help stock platforms categorize your photos
3. Alt text (image metadata) boosts image SEO by up to 20% (Source: Moz, 2024)
4. HTML meta tags control your click-through rate in search results

Our image SEO audit tool checks all metadata fields that affect your rankings.

For a full breakdown, read our guide on EXIF metadata and better ranking.

Metadata and Privacy

Location metadata is the biggest privacy risk. A photo taken at home contains your exact GPS coordinates. Share it online, and anyone can find where you live.

A 2023 study by Princeton University found that over 70% of smartphone users don't know their photos contain GPS data.

Before sharing images online, always:

1. Check GPS data with our EXIF map viewer
2. Remove location data with our iPhone EXIF remover
3. Verify the file is clean with our EXIF extractor

Good to know: Under GDPR (EU) and CCPA (California), location data is considered personal information. Sharing it without consent may have legal consequences.

How to View, Edit, or Remove Metadata

In brief: You can manage all types of image metadata online — no software required — using Exif Injector's free tools.

Here is a quick comparison of what each tool does:

All tools run in your browser. No installation needed. Your files stay private.

Our team has tested over 140 platforms — including Etsy, Shopify, and Getty Images. We know exactly what metadata each platform reads and rewards.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About Metadata

What are the most common examples of metadata?

The most common examples are EXIF data in photos (camera model, GPS, date), document metadata (author, creation date), and web metadata (meta title, description, Open Graph tags). Each type serves a different purpose.

What is metadata in an image?

Image metadata is hidden data embedded inside a photo. It includes technical details like shutter speed, ISO, and GPS. The three main standards are EXIF, IPTC, and XMP. You can read more in our guide on what is EXIF data.

Can metadata reveal my location?

Yes. If GPS was enabled when you took the photo, the exact coordinates are stored in the EXIF data. Remove location data before sharing images. Use our EXIF remover to do this in seconds.

What is the difference between EXIF, IPTC, and XMP?

EXIF stores technical camera data. IPTC stores editorial fields like keywords and copyright. XMP is a flexible Adobe standard that holds all metadata types in XML format. Most professional image workflows use all three.

How do I view or edit metadata in my images?

Use our free EXIF editor to view and edit image metadata online. No download required. You can edit EXIF, IPTC, and XMP fields in seconds.

About Exif Injector Exif Injector is an AI-powered SaaS tool for injecting, viewing, and removing EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata from images in bulk. Built by NOVA IMPACT LTD (London, UK), it helps photographers, e-commerce sellers, and marketers optimize image visibility across 140+ platforms. Try it free →

Sources cited in this article:

1. Dublin Core Metadata Initiative — Metadata Basics, 2024 — https://www.dublincore.org/
2. IPTC.org — Photo Metadata Standards, 2024 — https://www.iptc.org/standards/photo-metadata/
3. Adobe — XMP Specification, 2024 — https://www.adobe.com/devnet/xmp.html
4. Schema.org — Structured Data Documentation, 2024 — https://schema.org/
5. Moz — Image SEO Guide, 2024 — https://moz.com/learn/seo/image-seo
6. Statista — YouTube Upload Statistics, 2025 — https://www.statista.com/
7. Princeton University — Privacy and Smartphone Metadata Study, 2023 — https://www.cs.princeton.edu/