What is EXIF? (Exchangeable Image File Format)

ChronoVerify glossary

EXIF is metadata that cameras and phones write into a photo: the capture time, the device make and model, exposure settings, and sometimes GPS coordinates. It is easy to read and easy to edit, so it is evidence to corroborate, not proof. ChronoVerify parses EXIF (including the capture-time sub-IFD that holds DateTimeOriginal) and checks it for internal consistency rather than trusting it blindly.

Why it matters

EXIF is one of the signals ChronoVerify reads when you check a photo's capture time and provenance. No single signal is proof on its own: the verdict combines provenance, metadata, and pixel forensics, and is investigative triage for human review, not a courtroom guarantee.