EXIF is the block of tags a camera writes into a photo. Most of it is harmless exposure data, but a few fields identify the device, the time or the place. This glossary groups the tags by how much they reveal.
High risk: place and time
| Tag | What it holds | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| GPSLatitude, GPSLongitude | The coordinates where the photo was taken | Points at a street or a house |
| GPSAltitude | Height above sea level | Can identify a floor in a building |
| GPSImgDirection | The direction the camera faced | Shows what you were looking at |
| DateTimeOriginal | When the shutter was pressed | Places you at a time |
| OffsetTime | The time zone offset | Hints at where you were |
Medium risk: the device
| Tag | What it holds | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Make, Model | Camera or phone maker and model | Narrows down who could have taken it |
| SerialNumber, BodySerialNumber | A number unique to the camera body | Links photos to one device, even across accounts |
| LensModel, LensSerialNumber | The lens | Same, for the lens |
| Software | The program that last saved the file | Reveals your tools |
| OwnerName, Artist, Copyright | Names you or the camera set | Names a person directly |
Low risk: exposure
ExposureTime, FNumber, ISO, FocalLength, Flash and WhiteBalance describe how the picture was taken. They do not identify anyone by themselves, though together with a serial number they help to profile a device.
Related blocks that are not EXIF
- XMP: an XML block used by editing programs, with creator, rights, edit history and sometimes AI generation details.
- IPTC: captions, keywords, credits and contact details written by photo workflows.
- MakerNotes: private data from the camera maker, which can include serial numbers and shooting counts.
- C2PA Content Credentials: signed records of who made or edited an image, including AI tools.
See and remove them
Open a photo in the EXIF Viewer to read the tags in your browser, then clean it with the Image Metadata Remover. For a complete list across every block, use the File Metadata Viewer.