> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aspect.inc/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Metadata

> Automatic technical metadata plus your own custom fields, all searchable and filterable.

Every asset in Aspect carries metadata: information about the file itself and about how your team describes it. Aspect fills in the technical details automatically, and you can add your own custom fields on top.

## Technical metadata, extracted automatically

When you upload a file, Aspect reads its technical metadata for you - no manual entry needed. Depending on the file type, this includes details like:

* Resolution (width and height)
* Duration
* Codec
* Frame rate
* Camera information
* GPS location, when the file contains it

You can see an asset's metadata in the details panel when viewing it. There is nothing to configure - extraction happens as part of indexing every new upload.

## Custom metadata fields

Technical details only tell part of the story. Custom metadata fields let your team track the things that matter to your workflow - approval status, shoot day, client name, usage rights, and so on.

Custom fields are defined per project, so each project can have its own set. A field has a name and a type:

| Type          | Use it for                                   |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Text          | Free-form notes, names, identifiers          |
| Number        | Counts, ratings, version numbers             |
| Date          | Shoot dates, deadlines, air dates            |
| Checkbox      | Yes/no flags like "approved"                 |
| Single select | One choice from a fixed list, like a status  |
| Multi select  | Several choices from a fixed list, like tags |

Select fields have a list of options you define, and each option can have its own color so values are easy to scan at a glance.

### Create a custom field

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open project settings">
    In your project, open the project settings and go to the Metadata page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create the field">
    Create a new field, choose its name and type, and add options if it is a select field.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set values on assets">
    Open any asset and fill in the field from the metadata section of the details panel. Values are set per asset.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  The [AI assistant](/guides/ai-assistant) can create metadata fields and fill in values for you - useful when you want to tag a large batch of assets at once.
</Tip>

## Filter and search with metadata

Metadata is not just for display - it powers how you narrow down your library:

* **Filtering**: when browsing a project, filter the file view by any metadata field, technical or custom. For example, show only 4K clips, or only assets marked "Approved."
* **Search**: combine metadata filters with [search](/guides/search) to find content that matches both what it contains and what its metadata says.

Because filters work on custom fields too, the metadata your team fills in becomes a fast way to slice the library: by status, by shoot, by client, or by any other field you have defined.

## Metadata on shared links

When you share assets with people outside your workspace, you can choose which metadata fields they see. This lets you share a review link without exposing internal fields like budgets or client notes. See [Sharing](/guides/sharing).

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Search" href="/guides/search">
    Combine metadata filters with content search.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI indexing" href="/guides/ai-indexing">
    What Aspect extracts from your files automatically.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>