# What is Photo metadata?

## Quick answer

Information associated with an image, such as capture time, camera details or location, depending on the file and capture settings.

Updated: 2026-10-31

Canonical: /glossary/photo-metadata

## Limitation

Removing visible location in one share action does not prove that every old copy or every metadata format has been removed.

[Source](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/manage-location-metadata-in-photos-ips0d7a5df82/web)

## Related terms

- [Sharing link](/glossary/sharing-link)

- [Hidden album](/glossary/hidden-album)

## Questions

### What does Photo metadata mean?

Information associated with an image, such as capture time, camera details or location, depending on the file and capture settings.

### What limitation matters?

Removing visible location in one share action does not prove that every old copy or every metadata format has been removed.

## Explore

- [What is Notification preview?](/glossary/notification-preview)

- [What is Screen Time?](/glossary/screen-time)

- [What is Locked note?](/glossary/locked-note)

- [What is Hidden album?](/glossary/hidden-album)

- [What is App Library?](/glossary/app-library)

- [What is Hidden apps folder?](/glossary/hidden-apps-folder)

- [What is Face ID?](/glossary/face-id)

- [What is Device passcode?](/glossary/device-passcode)

- [What is Authentication?](/glossary/authentication)

- [What is Encryption?](/glossary/encryption)

- [What is End-to-end encryption?](/glossary/end-to-end-encryption)

- [What is iCloud Photos?](/glossary/icloud-photos)

- [What is Sharing link?](/glossary/sharing-link)

- [What is Recovery?](/glossary/recovery)

## Private photo and document storage

For photos and documents you choose to store separately, explore [VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/).