exif

exif reads image metadata without changing the image: grouped EXIF fields, a compact summary, GPS coordinates, JSON output and an embedded thumbnail when one exists.

DataVersion 1.2.3Stable
lil-terminal

Overview

exif is a read-only metadata inspector for images: show grouped EXIF data, a compact summary, GPS coordinates, embedded thumbnails, or clean JSON that can be redirected to a file for further processing.

Metadata is optional, not guaranteed

A camera or image processor may omit EXIF, GPS or the embedded thumbnail entirely. A missing field is a normal result; GPS metadata can also expose a location when an image is shared.

Syntax

lil-terminal
exif <file> [options]

Reference

exif <file>

show EXIF metadata

exif <file> -t [dst] [-f]

extract the embedded thumbnail

-f

allow replacement when extracting a thumbnail

-i

show a compact file, image and camera summary

-g

show GPS coordinates and a map URL

-json

show complete EXIF data as formatted JSON

JSON

Use exif photo.jpg -json > exif-data.json -r when another tool needs valid JSON. Image resizing and format conversion belong in a dedicated image command rather than EXIF metadata editing.

Notes

The EXIF PHP extension is required. Not every image contains EXIF, GPS data or an embedded thumbnail.

Interactive sandbox preview

Run the prepared examples directly on the page. Their results are prebuilt and shown in the browser; no terminal command is executed on the server.

Inspect the image and export metadata

Install and manage

Install the current compatible version. Choose Base for the complete feature set or Minimum for the reduced package; use upgrade to update a module that is already installed.

Base and Minimum are two packages of the same current module release, not separate command versions.

Base package

Install the complete package with local command reference and every published mode.

install exif
Minimum package

Install the reduced package. Local reference is omitted; help <cmd> -i opens the current server reference.

install exif -m
Exact public version

Install exactly this published version.

install exif -v 1.2.3
Check or update

Ask upgrade to check compatibility and replace the installed block only when needed.

upgrade exif
Remove module

Remove the extension block while leaving the core and unrelated modules intact.

install exif -u

Examples

Examples are copyable command lines, not actions executed by this website. Review paths, permissions and destructive flags before running them on a real project.

Inspect the image and export metadata
cd \sandbox\images | exif photo.jpg -i | exif photo.jpg -json > \sandbox\exif-data.json -r
File        sandbox/images/photo.jpg
Size        732 B
MIME        image/jpeg
Dimensions  48x32
Camera      -
Thumbnail   -

{
  "FILE": {"FileName": "photo.jpg", "FileSize": 732},
  "COMPUTED": {"Width": 48, "Height": 32}
}

sandbox/exif-data.json
Show EXIF metadata
exif photo.jpg
[FILE]
FileName      photo.jpg
FileSize      732
MimeType      image/jpeg

[COMPUTED]
Width         48
Height        32
Exif · gps
exif photo.jpg -g
GPS data not found
Extract the embedded thumbnail
exif photo.jpg -t \sandbox\tmp\photo-thumb.jpg
Embedded thumbnail not found
Handle a missing image
exif missing.jpg
File not found

File used in this example: sandbox/images/photo.jpg

The example uses a file or directory from the protected /sandbox/ documentation workspace.

[binary file: photo.jpg]

Related documentation

How do I install a module? →Why does a command say “command not found”? →

Current public release

v1.2.32026-08-10

Structured EXIF output

Aligns default EXIF metadata into readable columns and simplifies the local reference around output-mode flags.

# Version history