Glossary
EXIF Metadata
Also: EXIF data · photo metadata · image metadata
EXIF metadata is information a camera embeds inside a photo — date, time, GPS location, camera model, and exposure settings. It travels within the file and can reveal private details when images are shared.
Reviewed by Chad Solomon · Updated June 2026
Explained
What EXIF stores
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) records capture details automatically. Common fields include: capture date and time, GPS coordinates, camera make and model, lens, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and orientation. JPG, TIFF, and HEIC carry EXIF; PNG largely does not.
Explained
Why EXIF is a privacy concern
GPS coordinates in EXIF can expose where a photo was taken, including a home address. Sharing original photos online can leak this. Many social platforms strip EXIF on upload, but file-sharing and email often do not.
Explained
How conversion affects EXIF
Converting an image through a browser canvas — as convertimage does — re-encodes only the pixels, so EXIF metadata is not carried into the output file. Converting a photo to PNG or WebP is one reliable way to drop location data.
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Related tools
Questions
Frequently asked
- How do I remove EXIF data from a photo?
- Re-save the photo in a format or tool that omits metadata. Converting it in your browser with convertimage produces a clean file with no EXIF carried over.
- Does converting an image remove GPS location?
- Yes. Browser-based conversion re-encodes the pixels only, so GPS coordinates and other EXIF fields are not included in the converted file.
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