ExifTool

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Software

title: "ExifTool" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["free-photo-software", "tag-editors", "2003-software", "free-software-programmed-in-perl", "software-using-the-artistic-license"] description: "Software" topic_path: "general/free-photo-software" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExifTool" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Software ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox software"]

Field	Value
name	ExifTool
logo	ExifTool logo.svg
screenshot	Exiftool-output.jpg
author	Phil Harvey
released
latest release version
latest release date
programming language	Perl
operating system	Linux, macOS, Windows
genre	Tag editor
license	GPLv1+ or Artistic License
website
::

| name = ExifTool | logo = ExifTool logo.svg | screenshot = Exiftool-output.jpg | caption = | author = Phil Harvey | developer = | released = | latest release version = | latest release date = | programming language = Perl | operating system = Linux, macOS, Windows | platform = | language = | genre = Tag editor | license = GPLv1+ or Artistic License | website = | name = Meta Information Encapsulation | icon = | logo = | screenshot = | caption = | extension = .mie | mime = application/x-mie | type code = | uniform type = | magic = {{plainlist|

7e 10 04 xx 30 4d 49 45
7e 18 04 xx 30 4d 49 45 | owner = Phil Harvey | released = | latest release version = 1.1 | latest release date = | genre = Metadata | container for = any other file format | contained by = | extended from = | extended to = | standard = | url =

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. This tool is often used in digital forensic analysis and library archival.

Metainformation encapsulation

ExifTool also 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, added as a trailer on other file types, 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

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)
CAP - Packet Capture files
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
PCAP - Packet Capture files
PCAPNG - Packet Capture files
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

Some metadata-only files may be created from metadata input alone. Here is a list of files that ExifTool can create from scratch:

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: ::data[format=table]

JPEG Meta Information	Can read?	Description
APP0 - JFIF	Yes	JPEG File Interchange Format
APP0 - JFXX	Yes	Extended JFIF
APP0 - CIFF	Yes	Camera Image File Format (used by some Canon models)
APP0 - AVI1	Yes	JPEG AVI information
APP0 - Ocad	Yes	Photobucket Ocad segment
APP1 - EXIF	Yes	Exchangeable Image File Format (including maker notes)
APP1 - XMP	Yes	Extensible Metadata Platform (multi-segment)
APP1 - QVCI	Yes	Casio QV-7000SX QVCI information
APP1 - FLIR	Yes	FLIR thermal imaging data (multi-segment)
APP1 - RawThermalImage	Yes	Thermal image from Parrot Bebop-Pro Thermal drone
APP2 - ICC	Yes	International Color Consortium (multi-segment)
APP2 - FPXR	Yes	FlashPix Ready (multi-segment)
APP2 - MPF	Yes	Multi-Picture Format
APP2 - PreviewImage	Yes	Samsung APP2 preview image (multi-segment)
APP3 - Kodak Meta	Yes	Kodak Meta information (Exif-like)
APP3 - Stim	Yes	Stereo Still Image format
APP3 - PreviewImage	Yes	Samsung/HP preview image (multi-segment)
APP4 - Scalado	Yes	(presumably written by Scalado mobile software)
APP4 - FPXR	Yes	FlashPix Ready in non-standard location (multi-segment)
APP4 - PreviewImage	Yes	(continued from APP3)
APP5 - Ricoh RMETA	Yes	Ricoh custom fields
APP5 - Samsung UniqueID	Yes	Samsung Unique ID
APP5 - PreviewImage	Yes	(continued from APP4)
APP6 - EPPIM	Yes	Toshiba PrintIM
APP6 - NITF	Yes	National Imagery Transmission Format
APP6 - HP TDHD	Yes	Hewlett-Packard Photosmart R837 TDHD information
APP6 - GoPro	Yes	GoPro Metadata Format (GPMF) information
APP7 - Pentax	Yes	Pentax APP7 maker notes
APP7 - Qualcomm	Yes	Qualcomm Camera Attributes
APP8 - SPIFF	Yes	Still Picture Interchange File Format
APP9 - Media Jukebox	Yes	Media Jukebox XML information
APP10 - Comment	Yes	PhotoStudio Unicode Comment
APP11 - JPEG-HDR	Yes	JPEG-HDR compressed ratio image
APP12 - Picture Info	Yes	ASCII-based Picture Information
APP12 - Ducky	Yes	Photoshop "Save for Web"
APP13 - Photoshop IRB	Yes	Image Resource Block (multi-segment, includes IPTC)
APP13 - Adobe CM	Yes	Adobe Color Management
APP14 - Adobe	Yes	Adobe DCT filter
APP15 - GraphicConverter	Yes	GraphicConverter quality
COM	Yes	JPEG Comment (multi-segment)
DQT	Yes	(used to calculate the Extra:JPEGDigest tag value)
SOF	Yes	JPEG Start Of Frame
AFCP trailer	Yes	AXS File Concatenation Protocol (includes IPTC)
CanonVRD trailer	Yes	Canon DPP Recipe Data
FotoStation trailer	Yes	FotoWare FotoStation (includes IPTC)
PhotoMechanic trailer	Yes	Camera Bits Photo Mechanic
MIE trailer	Yes	Meta Information Encapsulation
Samsung trailer	Yes	Samsung Galaxy trailer
PreviewImage trailer	Yes	(preview image written after JPEG EOI)
EmbeddedVideo trailer	Yes	(extracted only with ExtractEmbedded option)
::

Programming libraries

ExifTool is available as the native Perl library Image::ExifTool. | last1 = Harvey | first1 = Phil | title = The Image::ExifTool Perl Library Module | work = ExifTool website | url = https://exiftool.org/#library | access-date = 2024-10-29 The Python PyExifTool module provides a wrapper to the system version of ExifTool. | title = PyExifTool | work = PyPI website | url = https://pypi.org/project/PyExifTool/ | access-date = 2024-10-29 Further programming resources are on the ExifTool project webpage.

References

[https://exiftool.org/ancient_history.html ExifTool Ancient History]
(2018). "A Workflow for Adding Specimen Metadata to Images Captured in the Field". Biodiversity Information Science and Standards.
(November 2015). "Processing of Metadata on Multimedia using ExifTool". IEEE.
(12 August 2018). "Automated Photo Workflow using Hazel Rules and ExifTool". Medium.
(December 2015). "ExifTool Tutorial Series". AVP.
(May 2022). "Forensic Analysis Video Metadata Authenticity Detection Using ExifTool". Journal of Innovation Research and Knowledge.
"ExifTool Meta-Data Extractor Image Forensics Tool". Securium Solutions.
(12 November 2023). "Using ExifTool to Extract Metadata from Image Files". OSINT.
(3 October 2021). "Digital Image Forensics: Ways to Investigate Images' Reliability". Medium.
"ExifTool basics for DFIR".
"Explainer: How Law Enforcement Decodes Your Photos".
"Exif Extension". Guidelines for Handling Image Metadata.
(3 February 2025). "Enhancing Crime Scene Documentation with pyLEPhotoLog: A Free and Open-Source Solution for Investigators". NH Law Enforcement Blog.
"Embedded Metadata". OSUL.
"Two Open-Source Tools for Digital Asset Metadata Management". AVPreserve.
"Reading and Writing Embedded Metadata". Car Library.
"Advanced Renamer - Free and fast batch rename utility for files and folders".
cberry. (June 1, 2012). "Parsing Exif client-side using JavaScript". code.flickr.com.
"Hugin Preferences - PanoTools.org Wiki".
Harvey, Phil. "ExifTool by Phil Harvey".
[https://exiftool.org/#supported Supported File Types]

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::