# Inspect file metadata

- Human page: https://happytails.ai/en/privacy-tools/inspect-file-metadata/
- Markdown: https://happytails.ai/en/privacy-tools/inspect-file-metadata.md
- Structured JSON: https://happytails.ai/agents/en/privacy-tools/inspect-file-metadata/index.json
- Visibility: public

## Tool capabilities

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tool ID | `inspect-file-metadata` |
| Category | privacy-tools |
| Implementation | Registered implementation. Registration alone is not a production-quality guarantee. |
| Browser execution | Use the visible action or interactive controls. |
| Browser processing | Browser; see tool notes for network behavior. |
| HTTP API | /api/v1/tools/inspect-file-metadata/run |
| Browser-agent interface | run_current_tool |

### Inputs and settings

No free-text input is required. Use the file inputs and/or settings below.

Accepted browser files: `See implementation notes`. Choose one file.

No additional settings are declared for this tool.

### HTTP contract

API calls process supplied data on the server. The website origin is `https://happytails.ai`. Server API hosting is not connected on the public website yet. Use your local server origin to test these requests.

```http
POST https://happytails.ai/api/v1/tools/inspect-file-metadata/run
Content-Type: application/json
```

[Detailed operation reference](https://happytails.ai/en/api/tools/inspect-file-metadata.md) · [Shared API guide](https://happytails.ai/en/api.md)

#### Limits

| Limit | Value |
| --- | --- |
| request_bytes | 8388608 |
| input_characters | 1000000 |
| files_bytes | 5242880 |
| max_files | 1 |
| timeout_seconds | 12 |

#### Complete input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "properties": {
    "input": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 1000000,
      "default": "",
      "description": "Plain text input. File tools use files instead unless otherwise documented."
    },
    "options": {
      "type": "object",
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {}
    },
    "files": {
      "type": "array",
      "maxItems": 1,
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "name",
          "base64"
        ],
        "additionalProperties": false,
        "properties": {
          "name": {
            "type": "string",
            "maxLength": 200,
            "description": "Filename only, no path."
          },
          "mime": {
            "type": "string",
            "maxLength": 150
          },
          "bytes": {
            "type": "integer",
            "minimum": 0,
            "description": "Optional decoded byte count; must match content if supplied."
          },
          "base64": {
            "type": "string",
            "contentEncoding": "base64",
            "description": "File bytes as padded base64. Use the tool-specific limits.files_bytes value for the total decoded input size."
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Complete output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "tool",
    "result"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "tool": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "result": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "text",
        "files"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "text": {
          "type": [
            "string",
            "null"
          ]
        },
        "data": {
          "description": "Parsed JSON when the textual result is JSON."
        },
        "name": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "mime": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "files": {
          "type": "array",
          "items": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
              "name",
              "mime",
              "bytes",
              "base64"
            ],
            "properties": {
              "name": {
                "type": "string"
              },
              "mime": {
                "type": "string"
              },
              "bytes": {
                "type": "integer"
              },
              "base64": {
                "type": "string",
                "contentEncoding": "base64"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Error and retry handling

Failures return a non-200 status and `error.code` plus `error.message`. Correct invalid input before retrying; retry server-busy responses with bounded backoff. Returned files contain Base64 data, not persistent download URLs. Decode and inspect the output before treating conversion as successful. See the shared API guide for the complete status and timeout rules.

### Browser-agent workflow

1. Open the human page in a browser that supports WebMCP.
2. Discover the interface exposed by that page; use its actual schema.
3. Select files on the page first when the tool requires files.
4. Call `run_current_tool` with valid input and settings.
5. Inspect the returned result or error and the displayed output. Retrieve files from the displayed download links.

Calls do not automatically copy or download results. Browser permissions still apply. Interface availability alone is not proof of successful execution.

### Planning specification

Initially inspect supported image metadata only; distinguish stored GPS from inferred location.

This describes intended requirements. Use the implementation notes, interface schema and observed output to determine current support.

### Complete machine-readable capability record

```json
{
  "id": "inspect-file-metadata",
  "category": "privacy-tools",
  "built": true,
  "requirements": "Initially inspect supported image metadata only; distinguish stored GPS from inferred location.",
  "implementation": {
    "fields": [],
    "files": true,
    "input": false,
    "experience": {
      "automatic": false,
      "single": false,
      "label": "Your text",
      "placeholder": "Type or paste your input…",
      "help": "Up to 1,000,000 characters. Review the settings before running.",
      "action": null
    },
    "mode": "explicit",
    "interactive": false
  },
  "execution": "POST /api/v1/tools/inspect-file-metadata/run",
  "api": {
    "id": "inspect-file-metadata",
    "name": "Inspect file metadata",
    "category": "privacy-tools",
    "description": "Initially inspect supported image metadata only.",
    "notes": "",
    "human_path": "/en/privacy-tools/inspect-file-metadata/",
    "method": "POST",
    "endpoint": "/api/v1/tools/inspect-file-metadata/run",
    "schema_url": "/api/v1/tools/inspect-file-metadata",
    "input_schema": {
      "type": "object",
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {
        "input": {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 1000000,
          "default": "",
          "description": "Plain text input. File tools use files instead unless otherwise documented."
        },
        "options": {
          "type": "object",
          "additionalProperties": false,
          "properties": {}
        },
        "files": {
          "type": "array",
          "maxItems": 1,
          "items": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
              "name",
              "base64"
            ],
            "additionalProperties": false,
            "properties": {
              "name": {
                "type": "string",
                "maxLength": 200,
                "description": "Filename only, no path."
              },
              "mime": {
                "type": "string",
                "maxLength": 150
              },
              "bytes": {
                "type": "integer",
                "minimum": 0,
                "description": "Optional decoded byte count; must match content if supplied."
              },
              "base64": {
                "type": "string",
                "contentEncoding": "base64",
                "description": "File bytes as padded base64. Use the tool-specific limits.files_bytes value for the total decoded input size."
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "output_schema": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "tool",
        "result"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "tool": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "result": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": [
            "text",
            "files"
          ],
          "properties": {
            "text": {
              "type": [
                "string",
                "null"
              ]
            },
            "data": {
              "description": "Parsed JSON when the textual result is JSON."
            },
            "name": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "mime": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "files": {
              "type": "array",
              "items": {
                "type": "object",
                "required": [
                  "name",
                  "mime",
                  "bytes",
                  "base64"
                ],
                "properties": {
                  "name": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "mime": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "bytes": {
                    "type": "integer"
                  },
                  "base64": {
                    "type": "string",
                    "contentEncoding": "base64"
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "processing": "Server; same transformation code as browser tools",
    "limits": {
      "request_bytes": 8388608,
      "input_characters": 1000000,
      "files_bytes": 5242880,
      "max_files": 1,
      "timeout_seconds": 12
    }
  },
  "agent_processing": "Server; same transformation code as browser tools",
  "browser_agent": {
    "supported": true,
    "name": "run_current_tool",
    "discovery": "WebMCP on the human page in a supporting browser",
    "verification": "See audit/API-AUDIT.md; availability is not verification"
  }
}
```

## Page guide

Initially inspect supported image metadata only.

## Useful next steps

- [Remove metadata](https://happytails.ai/en/image-tools/remove-metadata/): Create a fresh image copy without the original embedded metadata. ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/image-tools/remove-metadata.md))

- [File hash](https://happytails.ai/en/developer-tools/file-hash/): SHA-256 digest and compare expected value. ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/developer-tools/file-hash.md))

- [HEIC to JPG](https://happytails.ai/en/image-tools/heic-to-jpg/): Convert HEIC files to JPG with the available format settings. ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/image-tools/heic-to-jpg.md))

## How to use Inspect file metadata

1. Choose a file in a supported format.
2. Review the settings, then choose Run Inspect file metadata.
3. Review the result, then use Copy result or a download link when available.

## Working with inspect file metadata

Password and passphrase generators need cryptographically secure randomness. Use a different password for every account and store it in a password manager. Metadata cleanup, visible redaction and content review address different information. Removing a file’s location metadata does not hide a street sign inside the image. Likewise, detecting a name in text is not a guarantee that every identifying detail has been found.

## Common questions

### Is hiding text with a colored box enough?

A visual cover can leave the original information in the file. A redaction workflow needs to remove the underlying content and verify the saved result.

### Can automatic suggestions guarantee anonymity?

No. Context, indirect identifiers and missed entities can still identify someone. Use automated suggestions as a review aid and inspect the final output.

Continue your workflow: [Remove metadata](https://happytails.ai/en/image-tools/remove-metadata/), [File hash](https://happytails.ai/en/developer-tools/file-hash/), [HEIC to JPG](https://happytails.ai/en/image-tools/heic-to-jpg/).