What is EXIF Metadata?
The Exchangeable image file format (Exif) is a standard that defines how a camera stores attributes in an image file. CIPA and JEITA formulated it together. The current edition is Exif 3.1, published on 30 January 2026. Exif 3.0 appeared in June 2023 and added a UTF-8 data type.
How Exif stores data
A JPEG file carries Exif data in an APP1 segment. An uncompressed file uses the TIFF Rev. 6.0 format. In both cases the attributes use the tag format of TIFF. The GPS tags sit in their own directory, which the tag 0x8825 points to.
GPS tags
- GPSLatitude and GPSLongitude hold degrees, minutes and seconds as three rational numbers. GPSLatitudeRef and GPSLongitudeRef hold the hemisphere.
- GPSAltitude and GPSAltitudeRef hold the altitude in meters and its reference.
- GPSTimeStamp and GPSDateStamp hold the UTC time and date.
- GPSHPositioningError holds the horizontal positioning error in meters. GPSDOP holds the dilution of precision.
The GPS tags are optional. A camera that does not record them produces a valid Exif file with no position.
Orientation tag
The Orientation tag (0x0112) has the values 1 to 8. The value tells a viewer where the first row and the first column of the stored pixels lie in the displayed picture. The default is 1.
Tools and maker tags
ExifTool reads and writes Exif and many other metadata formats. Drone makers also write their own tags in XMP, which is not part of Exif. ExifTool lists 28 such tags for DJI, among them altitude and gimbal angle tags. Read the maker’s documentation to learn what each value means.
Use in airfield inspection
An inspection photo with GPS tags carries a position and a UTC time. A person or a program can use them to place the photo on a map and to put photos in order. Check the altitude and accuracy tags before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Exif store in an image file?
- Exif stores attributes of the picture, such as the date and time of capture, the camera orientation and, if the camera records them, GPS tags. It uses the tag format of TIFF Rev. 6.0. The GPS tags are optional in the specification.
- How does Exif store a GPS position?
- Exif stores latitude and longitude as three rational numbers each: degrees, minutes and seconds. A separate reference tag gives N or S and E or W. GPSTimeStamp and GPSDateStamp give the UTC time and date.
- Is the Exif GPS altitude the height above the ground?
- No. GPSAltitude is a distance in meters from a reference that GPSAltitudeRef gives. In the Exif 2.31 text this reference is sea level, with 0 for above and 1 for below. The text does not name an ellipsoid or a geoid model. Exif 3.0 corrected the definition of GPSAltitudeRef. Check the camera maker's documentation before you use the altitude.
- Does Exif state how accurate the position is?
- Only if the camera writes the optional tags for it. GPSHPositioningError gives the horizontal positioning error in meters. GPSDOP gives the dilution of precision. A photo without these tags carries a position but no statement of its accuracy.
References
- cipa-dc-008-2016
- CIPA DC-008-Translation-2016, Exchangeable image file format for digital still cameras: Exif Version 2.31 Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) and JEITA
- cipa-std-page
- CIPA standards: DC-008, Exif Version 3.1 Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA)
- iptc-exif-3
- Exif 3.0 released, featuring UTF-8 support IPTC
- exiftool-gps-tags
- ExifTool GPS Tags Phil Harvey, ExifTool
- exiftool-manual
- ExifTool application documentation Phil Harvey, ExifTool
- exiftool-dji-tags
- ExifTool DJI Tags Phil Harvey, ExifTool
This is a reference entry. TarmacView provides drone inspection services and doesn't sell the equipment or materials described in this glossary.