Every photo you take tells a story. But behind the visible pixels—the sunset, the selfie, the document scan—lies a hidden layer of information that tells an even deeper, and sometimes more dangerous, story. This is called Metadata. Metadata is "data about data." It’s a digital fingerprint embedded inside your image files that records exactly where you were (GPS coordinates), when the photo was taken (to the second), and what device you used (iPhone 14 Pro, Canon R5, etc.). It can even list the specific settings of your camera, the software you used to edit the photo, and sometimes your name. A Metadata Viewer (or EXIF Viewer) is a tool that unlocks this hidden vault. For photographers, it's a way to learn from the settings of great shots. For privacy-conscious users, it's a critical safety check before sharing photos online. This comprehensive guide explains exactly what image metadata is, why it exists, how to view it, and most importantly, how to control who sees it...