What this viewer can establish
Mediaivo reports fields exposed by FFprobe. It is not a complete EXIF/GPS or forensic audit, and an absent location field does not prove a photo has no location data. For a sensitive file, use a format-appropriate metadata inspection tool as well as reviewing the visible and audible content.
Media metadata can include technical properties such as codec, dimensions, duration and bitrate plus optional descriptive fields such as creation time, device, software, title, author and sometimes location. The exact fields depend on the file type, device, application and processing history.
Inspect a media file
Read the technical streams and embedded tags of your own photo, video or audio file.
Technical metadata versus descriptive metadata
Technical metadata helps software understand the file: format, codecs, resolution, frame rate, duration, sample rate, channel layout and bitrate are common examples.
Descriptive metadata can include title, artist, author, copyright, creation date, device or software identifiers and other tags added by cameras, editors or users.
Location is not guaranteed. Some photos can carry GPS fields when location tagging was enabled, while many media files contain no location data at all.
How to review media metadata with Mediaivo
- Inspect the exact file
Use the actual source or output you plan to publish because different generations can contain different tags.
- Separate format from streams
Read the container-level information and then examine individual video, audio or subtitle streams.
- Review descriptive tags
Look for dates, device, title, author, software and location-related fields.
- Decide whether metadata is useful or sensitive
Keep technical data needed for the workflow and remove unnecessary descriptive fields from sharing copies when appropriate.
Metadata fields by media type
Different formats expose different structures, but these groups are common.
| Situation | Recommended choice | Check before publishing |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Dimensions, color information, EXIF camera settings and optional GPS | Review location and device-related fields before sensitive sharing. |
| Video | Container, video/audio codecs, dimensions, frame rate, duration, bitrate and tags | Check stream compatibility and creation metadata. |
| Audio | Codec, duration, sample rate, channels, bitrate and descriptive tags | Review title, artist, album and software fields as needed. |
Metadata can explain technical problems
If a video will not upload, metadata can reveal an unsupported codec, excessive dimensions or missing audio. If an image appears rotated, orientation-related fields may explain why applications disagree.
Privacy review is a separate use case. Metadata can contain sensitive context, but removing it does not remove visible or audible information embedded in the media itself.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Treating all metadata as private
Many technical fields are necessary and not personally identifying by themselves.
2. Assuming location is always present
GPS data depends on capture settings and file history.
3. Removing metadata without preserving a master
Capture and production information can be useful for your own archive.
4. Ignoring visible information
Metadata removal does not hide faces, addresses, voices or screen content.
Final check before downloading or publishing
- The exact file was inspected.
- Container and streams were distinguished.
- Descriptive tags were reviewed.
- Sensitive fields were considered separately from technical fields.
- A clean sharing copy is used when appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Do all photos contain GPS coordinates?
No. GPS appears only when location data was captured and retained.
Can video metadata show the codec?
Yes. Inspect the video and audio streams to identify their codecs and other technical properties.
Does metadata include the actual media content?
No. Metadata describes or supports the file; the pixels and audio samples are the content itself.
Can I remove metadata?
Many removable tags can be stripped from a sharing copy, but keep the original when production or capture information may be useful.
Understand what travels with the file
Inspect technical streams and descriptive tags, then keep or remove information according to the real workflow.
A metadata example you can repeat
Checked September 9, 2026 using Mediaivo's processing functions and ffmpeg version 6.1.1-3ubuntu5 Copyright (c) 2000-2023 the FFmpeg developers. The source is an original synthetic test chart, with no personal data or third-party footage. Video is silent and three seconds long.
Settings: Read metadata
Download input · Download reference output · Measurements and method
Run this example in the tool →
| Measurement | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Bytes | 2334407 | 2287 |
| Pixels | 1280 × 720 | JSON report |
| Video/image codec | h264 | — |
Video: H.264 · 1280 × 720 · 24 fps
Duration: 3 seconds
Audio streams: 0
Title: Mediaivo synthetic test chartThe report identifies H.264 video, 1280 × 720 pixels, 24 frames per second and a three-second duration. There is no audio stream. The synthetic title and comment are metadata; they do not prove ownership or authenticity.