

However, determining the purpose of a field may be non-intuitive. Within each type of metadata are sets of data fields, and each field has a name. The various fields within the metadata increase the complexity. Just identifying what created a particular metadata block may be difficult. Some of these metadata structures come from cameras, while others come from applications. A single picture may contain EXIF metadata, JFIF metadata, XMP, MPF, and other types of metadata.

Problems occur when analysts don't take the time to identify what created the different pieces of metadata, what the metadata components describe, and what the programs that extract metadata are really showing.ĭifferent types of metadata come from different sources. While there are lots of tools that display metadata, they do not all display the same things, and there are a few things that makes evaluating metadata complicated. Evaluating metadata requires more than just loading a picture and pushing a button.
