What video metadata is
A video file is a container, such as MP4, MOV, WebM, or MKV. The container holds one or more tracks: usually one video track and one audio track. Each track uses a codec, such as H.264 or AAC, that compresses the data. The container also holds tags: the title, the date, the device, and sometimes the location.
This tool reads all of these values and explains what they mean.
The values that matter most
| Value | What it tells you | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Codec | How the video is compressed, such as H.264, HEVC, AV1, or VP9 | Some browsers, editors, and platforms cannot play every codec |
| Codec string | The codec, profile, and level, such as avc1.640028 |
Players use it to decide if a device can decode the video |
| Frame rate | The number of frames each second | A variable frame rate can cause audio drift in some editors |
| Bitrate | The amount of data each second | It controls the quality and the file size |
| Resolution and rotation | The stored size and how a player turns it | Phone videos often store a landscape frame with a rotation tag |
| Colour space and HDR | The colour primaries and the transfer function | PQ or HLG means HDR, which can look grey on SDR screens |
How to read a codec string
- avc1.640028: H.264, High profile (
64= 100), level 4.0 (28= 40). - hvc1.2.4.L150: H.265 (HEVC), Main 10 profile, level 5.0.
- av01.0.08M.10: AV1, Main profile, level 4.0, 10-bit.
- mp4a.40.2: AAC-LC audio.
To check how the keyframes of a video are spaced, use the keyframe checker. To check whether a video carries signs of AI generation, use the AI video checker.
Location data and privacy
Phones can save GPS coordinates in a video when the camera has access to location. iPhones write them in a tag called com.apple.quicktime.location.ISO6709. If you share the original file, other people can read where you filmed it. This tool shows a warning when it finds a location tag.
From metadata to meaning
Metadata tells you how a video is stored. It does not tell you what is in it. For the content, such as scenes, speech, on-screen text, and objects, see the video understanding API and the glossary entry for video understanding.