Metadata is information that explains other data in a simple, helpful way. It adds context so both people and computers can understand, organize, and find the main data more easily. You can think of it like a label or a card that tells you what a file, transaction, or record is.
On blockchains, metadata is added to transactions or blocks to give more information. This might include sender and receiver addresses, timestamps, or extra details about a token. For NFTs, the metadata usually links to the media file and lists features that buyers and platforms use to display, sort, and verify the asset. Since this metadata is visible on explorers, it helps people trace the history and check if something is authentic.
Metadata can be stored inside the file, in a separate file, or directly on the blockchain as part of a transaction. For NFTs, it is common to use a JSON file that has links to images or audio, and the token refers to this file. Blockchain explorers and developer tools show this information so anyone can read the token’s metadata and see its transaction history.
Metadata can use different simple formats. Cameras and image tools often use EXIF or similar tags inside the file. Web and crypto projects usually use JSON because apps and wallets can read it easily. For NFTs, this JSON file usually has fields like title, description, creator name, creation date, file format, and a link to the media file.
People look at metadata for many reasons. Regular users use it to find files or understand what a token means. Developers read metadata to add or show items in apps. In crypto, validators, nodes, auditors, and platforms use metadata to check transactions, confirm where things come from, and make data easier to handle.
Good metadata helps you search faster, see important details without opening a file, and lets systems sort and suggest content. In crypto, clear metadata makes things more transparent and easier to track by linking a token to its creator, media, and history.
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