ExifTool

ExifTool

Original author(s)	Phil Harvey
Initial release	19 November 2003 (2003-11-19)
Stable release	13.09 / 17 December 2024 (17 December 2024)
Repository	github.com/exiftool/exiftool
Written in	Perl
Operating system	Linux, macOS, Windows
Type	Tag editor
License	GPLv1+ or Artistic License
Website	exiftool.org

Meta Information Encapsulation

Filename extension	.mie
Internet media type	application/x-mie
Magic number	7e 10 04 xx 30 4d 49 45 7e 18 04 xx 30 4d 49 45
Developed by	Phil Harvey
Initial release	28 November 2005 (2005-11-28)
Latest release	1.1 21 January 2007 (2007-01-21)
Type of format	Metadata
Container for	any other file format
Website	exiftool.org/TagNames/MIE.html

ExifTool is a free and open-source software program for reading, writing, and manipulating image, audio, video, and PDF metadata. As such, ExifTool classes as a tag editor. It is platform independent, available as both a Perl library (Image::ExifTool) and a command-line application. ExifTool is commonly incorporated into different types of digital workflows and supports many types of metadata including Exif, IPTC, XMP, JFIF, GeoTIFF, ICC Profile, Photoshop IRB, FlashPix, AFCP and ID3, as well as the manufacturer-specific metadata formats of many digital cameras.

Metainformation encapsulation

ExifTool implements its own open metadata format. It is designed to encapsulate metainformation from many sources, in binary or textual form, and bundle it together with any type of file. It can either be a single file, wrapping existing data, or used as a sidecar file, carrying for example Exif or XMP metadata.

Uses

Websites and services that use ExifTool include:

• Advanced Renamer
• Flickr (to parse the metadata from uploaded images)
• Hugin
• XnView

Supported file formats

ExifTool can read, edit or create files with the following formats:

Reading support

Extended content

360 - GoPro 360 video (QuickTime-based) 3FR - Hasselblad raw (TIFF-based) 3G2, 3GP2 - 3rd Gen. Partnership Project 2 audio/video (QuickTime-based) 3GP, 3GPP - 3rd Gen. Partnership Project audio/video (QuickTime-based) A - Unix static library code Archive AA - Audible Audiobook AAC - Audio files AAE - Apple edit information (XML PLIST-based) AAX - Audible Enhanced Audiobook (QuickTime-based) ACR - American College of Radiology ACR-NEMA (DICOM-like) AFM, ACFM, AMFM - Adobe (Composite/Multiple Master) Font Metrics AI, AIT - Adobe Illustrator (Template, PS or PDF) AIFF, AIF, AIFC - Audio Interchange File Format (Compressed) APE - Monkey's Audio ARQ - Sony Alpha Pixel-Shift raw (TIFF-based) ARW - Sony Alpha raw (TIFF-based) ASF - Microsoft Advanced Systems Format AVI - Audio Video Interleaved (RIFF-based) AVIF - AV1 Image File Format (QuickTime-based) BMP, DIB - Windows BitMaP / Device Independent Bitmap BPG - Better Portable Graphics BTF - BigTIFF (64-bit Tagged Image File Format) CHM - Microsoft Compiled HTML format COS - Capture One Settings (XML-based) CR2 - Canon Raw 2 (TIFF-based) (CR2 specification) CR3 - Canon Raw 3 (QuickTime-based) (CR3 specification) CRM - Canon RAW Movie (QuickTime-based) CRW, CIFF - Canon Raw Camera Image File Format (CRW specification) CS1 - Sinar CaptureShop 1-shot raw (PSD-based) CSV - Comma-Separated Values CZI - Zeiss Integrated Software RAW (ZISRAW) DCM, DC3, DIC, DICM - DICOM - Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine DCP - DNG Camera Profile (DNG-like) DCR - Kodak Digital Camera Raw (TIFF-based) DFONT - Macintosh Data Fork Font DIVX - DivX media format (ASF-based) DJVU, DJV - DjVu image (AIFF-like) DNG - Digital Negative (TIFF-based) DOC, DOT - Microsoft Word Document/Template (FPX-like) DOCX, DOCM - Office Open XML Document (Macro-enabled) DOTX, DOTM - Office Open XML Document Template (Macro-enabled) DPX - Digital Picture Exchange DR4 - Canon DPP version 4 Recipe DSS, DS2 - Digital Speech Standard DYLIB - Mac OS X Mach-O executable and library files DV - Digital Video DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting (QuickTime-based) DVR-MS - Microsoft Digital Video Recording (ASF-based) EIP - Capture One Enhanced Image Package (ZIP-based) EPS, EPSF, PS - (Encapsulated) PostScript Format EPUB - Electronic Publication Format ERF - Epson Raw Format (TIFF-based) EXE, DLL - DOS/Windows executable and library files EXIF - Exchangeable Image File Format metadata (TIFF-based) EXR - Open EXR (Extended Range) EXV - Exiv2 metadata file (JPEG-based) F4A, F4B, F4P, F4V - Adobe Flash Player 9+ Audio/Video (Quicktime-based) FFF - Hasselblad Flexible File Format (TIFF-based) FFF - FLIR thermal image File Format FITS - Flexible Image Transport System FLA - Macromedia/Adobe Flash project (FPX-like) FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec FLIF - Free Lossless Image Format FLV - Flash Video FPF - FLIR Public image Format FPX - FlashPix image GIF - Compuserve Graphics Interchange Format GPR - GoPro Raw (DNG-based) GZ, GZIP - GNU ZIP compressed archive HDP, WDP, JXR - Windows HD Photo / Media Photo / JPEG XR (TIFF-based) HDR - Radiance RGBE (Red Green Blue Exponent) High Dynamic-Range HEIC, HEIF, HIF - High Efficiency Image Format (QuickTime-based) HTML, HTM, XHTML - (Extensible) HyperText Markup Language ICO, CUR - Windows Icon or Cursor ICC, ICM - International Color Consortium color profile ICS, ICAL - iCalendar Schedule IDML - Adobe InDesign Markup Language (ZIP/XML-based) IIQ - Phase One Intelligent Image Quality raw (TIFF-based) IND, INDD, INDT - Adobe InDesign Document/Template (XMP metadata only) INSP - Insta360 Picture (JPEG-based) INSV - Insta360 Video (QuickTime-based) INX - Adobe InDesign Interchange (XML-based, XMP metadata only) ISO - ISO 9660 disk image ITC - iTunes Cover Flow artwork J2C, J2K, JPC - JPEG 2000 codestream JP2, JPF, JPM, JPX - JPEG 2000 image (Compound/Extended) JPEG, JPG, JPE - Joint Photographic Experts Group image (see table below) JSON - JavaScript Object Notation JXL - JPEG XL (Extra longterm) K25 - Kodak DC25 raw (TIFF-based) KDC - Kodak Digital Camera raw (TIFF-based) KEY, KTH - Apple iWork '09 Keynote presentation/Theme LA - Lossless Audio (RIFF-based) LFP, LFR - Lytro Light Field Picture LNK - Microsoft Shell Link (Windows shortcut) LRV - Low-Resolution Video (QuickTime-based) M2TS, MTS, M2T, TS - MPEG-2 Transport Stream (used for AVCHD video) M4A, M4B, M4P, M4V - MPEG-4 Audio/Video (Quicktime-based) MACOS - MacOS "._" sidecar file (may have any extension) MAX - 3D Studio MAX (FPX-like) MEF - Mamiya (raw) Electronic Format (TIFF-based) MIE - Meta Information Encapsulation (MIE specification) MIFF, MIF - Magick Image File Format MKA, MKV, MKS - Matroska Audio/Video/Subtitle MOBI, AZW, AZW3 - Mobipocket electronic book (Palm-based) MODD - Sony Picture Motion metadata (XML PLIST-based) MOI - MOD Information file MOS - Creo Leaf Mosaic (TIFF-based) MOV, QT - Apple QuickTime Movie MP3 - MPEG-1 layer 3 audio (uses ID3 information) MP4 - Motion Picture Experts Group version 4 (Quicktime-based) MPC - Musepack Audio MPEG, MPG, M2V - Motion Picture Experts Group version 1 or 2 MPO - Extended Multi-Picture format (JPEG with MPF extensions) MQV - Sony Mobile QuickTime Video MRW - Minolta Raw MXF - Material Exchange Format NEF - Nikon (raw) Electronic Format (TIFF-based) NMBTEMPLATE - Apple iWork '09 Numbers Template NRW - Nikon Raw (2) (TIFF-based) NUMBERS - Apple iWork '09 Numbers spreadsheet O - Unix compiled code Object ODB, ODC, ODF, ODG, ODI, ODP, ODS, ODT - Open Document Database/Chart/Formula/Graphics/Image/Presentation/Spreadsheet/Text (ZIP/XML-based) OFR - OptimFROG audio (RIFF-based) OGG, OGV - Ogg bitstream container ONP - ON1 Presets OPUS - Ogg Opus audio ORF - Olympus Raw Format (TIFF-based) OTF - Open Type Font PAC - Lossless Predictive Audio Compression (RIFF-based) PAGES - Apple iWork '09 Pages document PCD - Kodak Photo CD Image Pac PCX - PC Paintbrush PDB, PRC - Palm Database PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format PEF - Pentax (raw) Electronic Format (TIFF-based) PFA, PFB - PostScript Font ASCII/Binary PFM - Printer Font Metrics PGF - Progressive Graphics File PICT, PCT - Apple Picture file PLIST - Apple Property List (binary and XML formats) PMP - Sony DSC-F1 Cyber-Shot image PNG, JNG, MNG - Portable/JPEG/Multiple-image Network Graphics PPM, PBM, PGM - Portable Pixel/Bit/Gray Map PPT, PPS, POT - Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation/Slideshow/Template (FPX-like) POTX, POTM - Office Open XML Presentation Template (Macro-enabled) PPAX, PPAM - Office Open XML Presentation Addin (Macro-enabled) PPSX, PPSM - Office Open XML Presentation Slideshow (Macro-enabled) PPTX, PPTM - Office Open XML Presentation (Macro-enabled) PSD, PSB, PSDT - PhotoShop Drawing / Large Document / Template PSP, PSPIMAGE - Paint Shop Pro QTIF, QTI, QIF - QuickTime Image File R3D - Redcode raw video RA - RealAudio RAF - FujiFilm Raw Format RAM, RPM - RealAudio/Plug-in Metafile RAR - RAR Archive RAW - Kyocera Contax N Digital Raw RAW - Panasonic Raw (TIFF-based) RIFF, RIF - Resource Interchange File Format RM, RV, RMVB - Real Media/Video (Variable Bitrate) RSRC - Mac OS Resource RTF - Rich Text Format RW2 - Panasonic Raw 2 (TIFF-based) RWL - Leica Raw (TIFF-based) RWZ - Rawzor compressed image SEQ - FLIR Systems image Sequence SKETCH - Sketch design file SO - Unix ELF executable and Shared Object files SR2 - Sony Raw 2 (TIFF-based) SRF - Sony Raw Format (TIFF-based) SRW - Samsung Raw format (TIFF-based) SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics (XML-based) SWF - Shockwave Flash THM - Canon Thumbnail (JPEG) THMX - Office Open XML Theme TIFF, TIF - Tagged Image File Format TTF, TTC - True Type Font/Collection TORRENT - BitTorrent description file TXT - Text files VCF, VCARD - Virtual Card VOB - Video Object (MPEG-based) VRD - Canon DPP Recipe Data VSD - Microsoft Visio Drawing (FPX-like) WAV - Windows digital audio WAVeform (RIFF-based) WEBM - Google Web Movie (MKV-based) WEBP - Google Web Picture (RIFF-based) WMA, WMV - Windows Media Audio/Video (ASF-based) WTV - Windos recorded TV show WV - WavePack lossless audio (RIFF-based) X3F - Sigma/Foveon raw XCF - GIMP native image format XLS, XLT - Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet/Template (FPX-like) XLSX, XLSM, XLSB - Office Open XML Spreadsheet (Macro-enabled/Binary) XLTX, XLTM - Office Open XML Spreadsheet Template (Macro-enabled) XMP - Extensible Metadata Platform sidecar file ZIP - ZIP archive

Edit support

• 360 - GoPro 360 video (QuickTime-based)
• 3G2, 3GP2 - 3rd Gen. Partnership Project 2 audio/video (QuickTime-based)
• 3GP, 3GPP - 3rd Gen. Partnership Project audio/video (QuickTime-based)
• AAX - Audible Enhanced Audiobook (QuickTime-based)
• AI, AIT - Adobe Illustrator (Template, PS or PDF)
• ARQ - Sony Alpha Pixel-Shift raw (TIFF-based)
• ARW - Sony Alpha raw (TIFF-based)
• AVIF - AV1 Image File Format (QuickTime-based)
• CR2 - Canon Raw 2 (TIFF-based) (CR2 specification)
• CR3 - Canon Raw 3 (QuickTime-based) (CR3 specification)
• CRM - Canon RAW Movie (QuickTime-based)
• CRW, CIFF - Canon Raw Camera Image File Format (CRW specification)
• CS1 - Sinar CaptureShop 1-shot raw (PSD-based)
• DCP - DNG Camera Profile (DNG-like)
• DNG - Digital Negative (TIFF-based)
• DR4 - Canon DPP version 4 Recipe
• DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting (QuickTime-based)
• EPS, EPSF, PS - (Encapsulated) PostScript Format
• ERF - Epson Raw Format (TIFF-based)
• EXIF - Exchangeable Image File Format metadata (TIFF-based)
• EXV - Exiv2 metadata file (JPEG-based)
• F4A, F4B, F4P, F4V - Adobe Flash Player 9+ Audio/Video (Quicktime-based)
• FFF - Hasselblad Flexible File Format (TIFF-based)
• FLIF - Free Lossless Image Format
• GIF - Compuserve Graphics Interchange Format
• GPR - GoPro Raw (DNG-based)
• HDP, WDP, JXR - Windows HD Photo / Media Photo / JPEG XR (TIFF-based)
• HEIC, HEIF, HIF - High Efficiency Image Format (QuickTime-based)
• ICC, ICM - International Color Consortium color profile
• IIQ - Phase One Intelligent Image Quality raw (TIFF-based)
• IND, INDD, INDT - Adobe InDesign Document/Template (XMP metadata only)
• INSP - Insta360 Picture (JPEG-based)
• JP2, JPF, JPM, JPX - JPEG 2000 image (Compound/Extended)
• JPEG, JPG, JPE - Joint Photographic Experts Group image (see table below)
• JXL - JPEG XL (Extra longterm)
• LRV - Low-Resolution Video (QuickTime-based)
• M4A, M4B, M4P, M4V - MPEG-4 Audio/Video (Quicktime-based)
• MEF - Mamiya (raw) Electronic Format (TIFF-based)
• MIE - Meta Information Encapsulation (MIE specification)
• MOS - Creo Leaf Mosaic (TIFF-based)
• MOV, QT - Apple QuickTime Movie
• MP4 - Motion Picture Experts Group version 4 (Quicktime-based)
• MPO - Extended Multi-Picture format (JPEG with MPF extensions)
• MQV - Sony Mobile QuickTime Video
• MRW - Minolta Raw
• NEF - Nikon (raw) Electronic Format (TIFF-based)
• NRW - Nikon Raw (2) (TIFF-based)
• ORF - Olympus Raw Format (TIFF-based)
• PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format
• PEF - Pentax (raw) Electronic Format (TIFF-based)
• PNG, JNG, MNG - Portable/JPEG/Multiple-image Network Graphics
• PPM, PBM, PGM - Portable Pixel/Bit/Gray Map
• PSD, PSB, PSDT - PhotoShop Drawing / Large Document / Template
• QTIF, QTI, QIF - QuickTime Image File
• RAF - FujiFilm Raw Format
• RAW - Panasonic Raw (TIFF-based)
• RW2 - Panasonic Raw 2 (TIFF-based)
• RWL - Leica Raw (TIFF-based)
• SR2 - Sony Raw 2 (TIFF-based)
• SRW - Samsung Raw format (TIFF-based)
• THM - Canon Thumbnail (JPEG)
• TIFF, TIF - Tagged Image File Format
• VRD - Canon DPP Recipe Data
• WEBP - Google Web Picture (RIFF-based)
• X3F - Sigma/Foveon raw
• XMP - Extensible Metadata Platform sidecar file

Creation support

• DR4 - Canon DPP version 4 Recipe
• EXIF - Exchangeable Image File Format metadata (TIFF-based)
• EXV - Exiv2 metadata file (JPEG-based)
• ICC, ICM - International Color Consortium color profile
• MIE - Meta Information Encapsulation (MIE specification)
• VRD - Canon DPP Recipe Data
• XMP - Extensible Metadata Platform sidecar file

Supported JPEG metadata

ExifTool can read, edit or create the following types of metadata in JPEG images:

JPEG Meta Information	Can read?	Can edit?	Can create?	Description
APP0 - JFIF	Yes	Yes	Yes	JPEG File Interchange Format
APP0 - JFXX	Yes	No	No	Extended JFIF
APP0 - CIFF	Yes	Yes	No	Camera Image File Format (used by some Canon models)
APP0 - AVI1	Yes	No	No	JPEG AVI information
APP0 - Ocad	Yes	No	No	Photobucket Ocad segment
APP1 - EXIF	Yes	Yes	Yes	Exchangeable Image File Format (including maker notes)
APP1 - XMP	Yes	Yes	Yes	Extensible Metadata Platform (multi-segment)
APP1 - QVCI	Yes	No	No	Casio QV-7000SX QVCI information
APP1 - FLIR	Yes	No	No	FLIR thermal imaging data (multi-segment)
APP1 - RawThermalImage	Yes	No	No	Thermal image from Parrot Bebop-Pro Thermal drone
APP2 - ICC	Yes	Yes	Yes	International Color Consortium (multi-segment)
APP2 - FPXR	Yes	No	No	FlashPix Ready (multi-segment)
APP2 - MPF	Yes	No	No	Multi-Picture Format
APP2 - PreviewImage	Yes	No	No	Samsung APP2 preview image (multi-segment)
APP3 - Kodak Meta	Yes	Yes	No	Kodak Meta information (Exif-like)
APP3 - Stim	Yes	No	No	Stereo Still Image format
APP3 - PreviewImage	Yes	No	No	Samsung/HP preview image (multi-segment)
APP4 - Scalado	Yes	No	No	(presumably written by Scalado mobile software)
APP4 - FPXR	Yes	No	No	FlashPix Ready in non-standard location (multi-segment)
APP4 - PreviewImage	Yes	No	No	(continued from APP3)
APP5 - Ricoh RMETA	Yes	No	No	Ricoh custom fields
APP5 - Samsung UniqueID	Yes	No	No	Samsung Unique ID
APP5 - PreviewImage	Yes	No	No	(continued from APP4)
APP6 - EPPIM	Yes	No	No	Toshiba PrintIM
APP6 - NITF	Yes	No	No	National Imagery Transmission Format
APP6 - HP TDHD	Yes	No	No	Hewlett-Packard Photosmart R837 TDHD information
APP6 - GoPro	Yes	No	No	GoPro Metadata Format (GPMF) information
APP7 - Pentax	Yes	No	No	Pentax APP7 maker notes
APP7 - Qualcomm	Yes	No	No	Qualcomm Camera Attributes
APP8 - SPIFF	Yes	No	No	Still Picture Interchange File Format
APP9 - Media Jukebox	Yes	No	No	Media Jukebox XML information
APP10 - Comment	Yes	No	No	PhotoStudio Unicode Comment
APP11 - JPEG-HDR	Yes	No	No	JPEG-HDR compressed ratio image
APP12 - Picture Info	Yes	No	No	ASCII-based Picture Information
APP12 - Ducky	Yes	Yes	Yes	Photoshop "Save for Web"
APP13 - Photoshop IRB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Image Resource Block (multi-segment, includes IPTC)
APP13 - Adobe CM	Yes	No	No	Adobe Color Management
APP14 - Adobe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Adobe DCT filter
APP15 - GraphicConverter	Yes	No	No	GraphicConverter quality
COM	Yes	Yes	Yes	JPEG Comment (multi-segment)
DQT	Yes	No	No	(used to calculate the Extra:JPEGDigest tag value)
SOF	Yes	No	No	JPEG Start Of Frame
AFCP trailer	Yes	Yes	No	AXS File Concatenation Protocol (includes IPTC)
CanonVRD trailer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Canon DPP Recipe Data
FotoStation trailer	Yes	Yes	No	FotoWare FotoStation (includes IPTC)
PhotoMechanic trailer	Yes	Yes	No	Camera Bits Photo Mechanic
MIE trailer	Yes	Yes	No	Meta Information Encapsulation
Samsung trailer	Yes	No	No	Samsung Galaxy trailer
PreviewImage trailer	Yes	Yes	Yes	(preview image written after JPEG EOI)
EmbeddedVideo trailer	Yes	No	No	(extracted only with ExtractEmbedded option)

Programming libraries

ExifTool is available as the native Perl library Image::ExifTool. The Python PyExifTool module provides a wrapper to the system version of ExifTool. Further programming resources are given on the ExifTool project webpage.

See also

• libsndfile – sndfile-info displays audio file info

External links

• Official website (exiftool.org)
• Official website (sourceforge.net)
• ExifTool User Manual
• Image::ExifTool API Manual
• MIE file format – specification
• MIE Tags – reference
• Commentary on Meta Information Formats (or "Why this or that Format Sucks"), Phil Harvey, essay on design decisions, created 15 November 2005, last revised 4 February 2020