From e41802653dfada584cfc2e12a413311b55fdb6e8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: jbranchaud <jbranchaud@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:52:47 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] Add Inspect EXIF Data For An Image File as a Unix TIL

---
 README.md                                   |  3 +-
 unix/inspect-exif-data-for-an-image-file.md | 47 +++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 49 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 unix/inspect-exif-data-for-an-image-file.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f427e77..fb7e992 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ working across different projects via [VisualMode](https://www.visualmode.dev/).
 
 For a steady stream of TILs, [sign up for my newsletter](https://visualmode.kit.com/newsletter).
 
-_1743 TILs and counting..._
+_1744 TILs and counting..._
 
 See some of the other learning resources I work on:
 
@@ -1710,6 +1710,7 @@ If you've learned something here, support my efforts writing daily TILs by
 - [Ignore A Directory During ripgrep Search](unix/ignore-a-directory-during-ripgrep-search.md)
 - [Ignore The Alias When Running A Command](unix/ignore-the-alias-when-running-a-command.md)
 - [Include Ignore Files In Ripgrep Search](unix/include-ignore-files-in-ripgrep-search.md)
+- [Inspect EXIF Data For An Image File](unix/inspect-exif-data-for-an-image-file.md)
 - [Interactively Browse Available Node Versions](unix/interactively-browse-availabile-node-versions.md)
 - [Interactively Switch asdf Package Versions](unix/interactively-switch-asdf-package-versions.md)
 - [Interpret Cron Schedule From The CLI](unix/interpret-cron-schedule-from-the-cli.md)
diff --git a/unix/inspect-exif-data-for-an-image-file.md b/unix/inspect-exif-data-for-an-image-file.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e3daad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unix/inspect-exif-data-for-an-image-file.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Inspect EXIF Data For An Image File
+
+The `exiftool` CLI (which can be downloaded via `brew`) is a useful tool for
+inspecting all the EXIF data attached to a media file. A media file like an
+image has a bunch of additional details embedded in it like timestamps, image
+metadata, and sometimes location information.
+
+Here is all the data attached to a screenshot I found on my desktop:
+
+```bash
+❯ exiftool ~/Desktop/CleanShot\ 2025-11-17\ at\ 11.22.18@2x.png
+ExifTool Version Number         : 13.50
+File Name                       : CleanShot 2025-11-17 at 11.22.18@2x.png
+Directory                       : /Users/lastword/Desktop
+File Size                       : 1194 kB
+File Modification Date/Time     : 2025:11:17 11:22:21-06:00
+File Access Date/Time           : 2025:12:15 10:43:55-06:00
+File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2025:12:05 15:37:48-06:00
+File Permissions                : -rw-r--r--
+File Type                       : PNG
+File Type Extension             : png
+MIME Type                       : image/png
+Image Width                     : 2502
+Image Height                    : 1232
+Bit Depth                       : 8
+Color Type                      : RGB with Alpha
+Compression                     : Deflate/Inflate
+Filter                          : Adaptive
+Interlace                       : Noninterlaced
+XMP Toolkit                     : XMP Core 6.0.0
+Y Resolution                    : 144
+Resolution Unit                 : inches
+X Resolution                    : 144
+Exif Image Width                : 2502
+Color Space                     : sRGB
+User Comment                    : Screenshot
+Exif Image Height               : 1232
+SRGB Rendering                  : Perceptual
+Image Size                      : 2502x1232
+Megapixels                      : 3.1
+```
+
+This works with other kinds of media files. For instance, I ran this against an
+MP4 screen recording file which contained even more metadata.
+
+In addition to reading data, `exiftool` can also write it. See `man exiftool`
+for more details on what else it can do.