Working with EXIF metadata Leave feedback
According to the specification, EXIF (Exchangeable image file format) is a standard that specifies the formats for images, sound, and tags used by digital still cameras and other systems that handle the image and sound files they record. Despite the confusing name, EXIF is just a metadata standard: it defines a way to store metadata properties in a variety of well-known image and audio formats. The EXIF tag structure is borrowed from TIFF files and declares tags that store technical details such as geolocation, the camera owner’s name, camera settings, and so on.
NotePlease refer to the following article for more information on the standard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif
To access EXIF metadata in a file of any supported format, GroupDocs.Metadata provides the exif_package property on the root package.
from groupdocs.metadata import Metadata
def read_basic_exif_properties():
with Metadata("exif.tiff") as metadata:
root = metadata.get_root_package()
# The EXIF package is exposed on the root; it may be absent
exif = getattr(root, "exif_package", None)
if exif is not None:
# Top-level EXIF tags
print(exif.artist)
print(exif.copyright)
print(exif.image_description)
print(exif.make)
print(exif.model)
print(exif.software)
# The EXIF IFD sub-package holds camera/exposure details
print(exif.exif_ifd_package.body_serial_number)
print(exif.exif_ifd_package.camera_owner_name)
print(exif.exif_ifd_package.user_comment)
# The GPS sub-package holds geolocation tags
print(exif.gps_package.altitude)
print(exif.gps_package.latitude_ref)
print(exif.gps_package.longitude_ref)
if __name__ == "__main__":
read_basic_exif_properties()
exif.tiff is the sample file used in this example. Click here to download it.
None
None
None
None
None
Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
None
None
test comment
1/5
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In some cases it’s necessary to read all EXIF tags from a file, including custom ones. The API provides direct access to the EXIF tags on different levels.
from groupdocs.metadata import Metadata
def read_exif_tags():
with Metadata("exif.jpg") as metadata:
root = metadata.get_root_package()
exif = getattr(root, "exif_package", None)
if exif is not None:
# to_list() yields every raw tag (id + value) at each level
for tag in exif.to_list():
print(f"{tag.tag_id} = {tag.value}")
# ...including the EXIF IFD sub-package
for tag in exif.exif_ifd_package.to_list():
print(f"{tag.tag_id} = {tag.value}")
# ...and the GPS sub-package
for tag in exif.gps_package.to_list():
print(f"{tag.tag_id} = {tag.value}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
read_exif_tags()
exif.jpg is the sample file used in this example. Click here to download it.
282 = System.Double[]
283 = System.Double[]
296 = System.Int32[]
531 = System.Int32[]
34665 = System.Int64[]
34853 = System.Int64[]
42032 = James B.
36864 = System.Byte[]
37121 = System.Byte[]
40961 = System.Int32[]
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The API supports reading a specific EXIF tag through an indexer that takes a TiffTagID.
from groupdocs.metadata import Metadata
from groupdocs.metadata.formats.image import TiffTagID
def read_specific_exif_tag():
with Metadata("exif.tiff") as metadata:
root = metadata.get_root_package()
exif = getattr(root, "exif_package", None)
if exif is not None:
# Index the package by TiffTagID to read one specific tag
software = exif[TiffTagID.SOFTWARE]
if software is not None:
print(f"Software: {software.value}")
# The same indexer works on the EXIF IFD sub-package
comment = exif.exif_ifd_package[TiffTagID.USER_COMMENT]
if comment is not None:
print(f"Comment: {comment.interpreted_value}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
read_specific_exif_tag()
exif.tiff is the sample file used in this example. Click here to download it.
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
Comment: test comment
Update EXIF metadata in a convenient way using the ExifPackage properties. If the package is missing, create a new one.
from groupdocs.metadata import Metadata
from groupdocs.metadata.standards.exif import ExifPackage
def update_exif_properties():
with Metadata("input.jpg") as metadata:
root = metadata.get_root_package()
# Create an EXIF package if the image doesn't have one yet
if getattr(root, "exif_package", None) is None:
root.exif_package = ExifPackage()
# Assign top-level EXIF properties
root.exif_package.copyright = "Copyright (C) 2026 GroupDocs. All Rights Reserved."
root.exif_package.image_description = "test image"
root.exif_package.software = "GroupDocs.Metadata"
# Assign properties on the EXIF IFD sub-package
root.exif_package.exif_ifd_package.body_serial_number = "test"
root.exif_package.exif_ifd_package.camera_owner_name = "GroupDocs"
root.exif_package.exif_ifd_package.user_comment = "test comment"
# Persist the changes
metadata.save("output.jpg")
if __name__ == "__main__":
update_exif_properties()
input.jpg is the sample file used in this example. Click here to download it.
Binary file (JPG, 795 KB)
The API allows adding or updating custom tags in an EXIF package using the typed TIFF tag classes.
from groupdocs.metadata import Metadata
from groupdocs.metadata.formats.image import TiffAsciiTag, TiffTagID
from groupdocs.metadata.standards.exif import ExifPackage
def set_custom_exif_tag():
with Metadata("exif.tiff") as metadata:
root = metadata.get_root_package()
if getattr(root, "exif_package", None) is None:
root.exif_package = ExifPackage()
# Add known properties using typed TIFF tags
root.exif_package.set(TiffAsciiTag(TiffTagID.ARTIST, "test artist"))
root.exif_package.set(TiffAsciiTag(TiffTagID.SOFTWARE, "GroupDocs.Metadata"))
metadata.save("output.tiff")
if __name__ == "__main__":
set_custom_exif_tag()
exif.tiff is the sample file used in this example. Click here to download it.
Binary file (TIFF, 135 KB)
The following typed tag classes are available in groupdocs.metadata.formats.image: TiffAsciiTag, TiffByteTag, TiffDoubleTag, TiffFloatTag, TiffLongTag, TiffRationalTag, TiffSByteTag, TiffShortTag, TiffSLongTag, TiffSRationalTag, TiffSShortTag, TiffUndefinedTag.
To remove the EXIF package from a file, assign None to the exif_package property.
from groupdocs.metadata import Metadata
def remove_exif_metadata():
with Metadata("exif.jpg") as metadata:
root = metadata.get_root_package()
# Assigning None drops the entire EXIF package
root.exif_package = None
metadata.save("output.jpg")
if __name__ == "__main__":
remove_exif_metadata()
exif.jpg is the sample file used in this example. Click here to download it.
Binary file (JPG, 795 KB)
You may easily run the code above and see the feature in action in our GitHub examples:
You are welcome to view and edit metadata of PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, emails, images and more with our free online Free Online Document Metadata Viewing and Editing App.
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