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Metadata

PDF metadata fields explained: author, XMP, IDs and more

By DeckleUpdated

PDF metadata fields are the eight document properties in the file's Info dictionary (Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, creation date and modification date), plus an XMP packet that can repeat and extend them, a document identifier, and any embedded attachments. Readers show the first eight under document properties. Remove PDF metadata lists all four kinds with their values so you can remove each one with Remove metadata.

Remove PDF metadata

Three different privacy tasks

Password

Controls access

Metadata

Document properties

Redaction

Selected page content

Choose the change; inspect the saved copy

Conceptual comparison · access, properties and content require separate checks. No single task certifies complete privacy.

The eight document properties

Field What it holds Example
Title The document's name, shown by many readers in the window or tab Annual report 2026
Author The person or organisation that created it Jane Smith
Subject A short description Results for the year to March
Keywords Search words chosen by the author finance, annual, results
Creator The app the original document was made in Microsoft Word
Producer The software that wrote the PDF macOS Quartz PDFContext
Created When the PDF, or its source, was first made 2 March 2026
Modified When it was last saved 28 October 2026

Deckle lists these under Document properties, labelled as above. Only fields that exist in the file appear.

Some apps also add custom properties, such as Company or a document number, to the same dictionary. Acrobat shows them on its Custom tab. Deckle does not list or remove custom properties, so check for them in Acrobat if your source app writes them.

XMP metadata

XMP is an XML record stored in the PDF alongside the Info fields. Most current apps write one. It usually repeats the title, author, app and dates, and can add more: a document ID that stays the same across versions, an instance ID that changes with each save, the edit history from design apps, or rights and copyright details.

Because XMP repeats the author, removing only the Author field can leave the name in the XMP record. Deckle shows the record as one item, XMP packet, under XMP metadata.

Document identifier

The trailer of a PDF holds a two-part file ID. The first part is set when the file is created and is usually kept when the file is changed. That makes it useful for software that tracks versions, and also means a copy you share can be matched to an internal one with the same ID. Deckle shows it as Document identifier with its value.

Embedded attachments

A PDF can store other files inside it: the spreadsheet behind a report, or the documents in a PDF portfolio. They are not on the pages and many readers do not show them. Deckle lists them as one item, such as "2 embedded files", under Embedded attachments, with their names. See how to remove attachments from a PDF.

What is not a metadata field

These are often mistaken for metadata, but they are part of the document's content or structure:

  • Page text, headers and footers. A name printed on a page is content.
  • Comments and highlights. Annotations carry the reviewer's name but sit on the page.
  • Form field values. Answers typed into a form are stored in the fields.
  • Bookmarks and links. They are navigation, not properties.
  • Page count, page size, PDF version and fonts. These describe the file's structure.
  • The file name and file-system dates. They belong to your computer, not the PDF.

Remove PDF metadata does not touch any of these. Why PDF information is still visible after removing metadata explains how to find each one.

How to see the fields in a PDF

  1. Open Remove PDF metadata and choose your PDF, or drop it onto the page.
  2. Read the list. Each item shows its label, its value and a Keep badge.
  3. Leave the page if you only wanted to look; nothing changes until you choose the button.

How to view the metadata of a PDF also covers Acrobat Reader, Preview and browser viewers.

Tips

  • Treat Creator and Producer as identifying. App names and versions can reveal internal systems.
  • Remove the XMP packet with the Info fields. It is the second copy of most of them.
  • Keep the title for public files. It is the one field readers are meant to see.
  • Fix fields at the source. Deckle removes fields but does not edit their values.

Frequently asked questions

Which PDF metadata fields are personal?

Author is the most common. Title, Subject and Keywords can contain names or project codes, the XMP packet can repeat any of them, and Creator and Producer can include a computer or account name.

Is the creation date the date the document was written?

Not always. Apps often set it when the PDF is exported, or copy the source document's date. Treat it as when this file, or its source, was first made.

Can I add or edit metadata fields in Deckle?

No. Remove PDF metadata removes fields you tick. To change a value, edit it in the source app and export again.

Does removing a field leave an empty one behind?

No. Deckle deletes the field rather than blanking it, so an empty Author does not hint that one existed.

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