What is EPUB metadata?

EPUB metadata is embedded information within an EPUB file that describes the ebook's properties such as title, author, publisher, language, and publication date. This data follows the Dublin Core metadata standard and is stored in the OPF (Open Packaging Format) file inside the EPUB archive. Metadata helps ebook readers, libraries, and digital bookstores properly categorize, display, and search for books.

When you download or create an EPUB file, it often contains incomplete, incorrect, or missing metadata. This can cause issues with ebook organization in reader apps, incorrect display of book information, or problems when sharing files. Editing this metadata directly requires technical knowledge of XML and the EPUB file structure.

Tool description

This tool allows you to view and edit the metadata of any EPUB file directly in your browser. Upload an EPUB file to extract all metadata fields, modify existing values, add new metadata entries, or remove unwanted fields. Download the modified EPUB with your changes applied while preserving the original book content and formatting.

Examples

Common metadata fields you can edit:

Field Example Value
title The Great Gatsby
creator F. Scott Fitzgerald
language en
publisher Scribner
date 1925-04-10
subject Fiction, Classic Literature
identifier isbn:9780743273565
description A novel about the American Dream
rights Public Domain

EPUB 3 metadata properties:

Property Example Value
dcterms:modified 2024-01-15T10:30:00Z
rendition:layout reflowable
rendition:orientation auto
calibre:series The Fitzgerald Collection
calibre:series_index 1

Features

  • Extract all metadata: Automatically reads Dublin Core tags, EPUB 2 meta elements, EPUB 3 properties, and link elements
  • Edit in place: Modify any existing metadata field value directly
  • Add custom fields: Create new metadata entries including standard DC fields and custom properties
  • Remove fields: Delete unwanted or incorrect metadata entries
  • Preserve file integrity: Downloads a properly formatted EPUB with all original content intact

Supported formats

The tool supports both EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 formats, handling various metadata syntaxes:

  • Dublin Core elements: <dc:title>, <dc:creator>, <dc:date>, etc.
  • EPUB 2 meta tags: <meta name="..." content="..." />
  • EPUB 3 properties: <meta property="...">value</meta>
  • Link elements: <link rel="..." href="..." />
  • Calibre metadata: calibre:series, calibre:series_index, calibre:rating

Use cases

  • Fix incorrect author names or titles before adding books to your ebook library
  • Add missing metadata like series information, publication dates, or ISBNs to improve organization in reader apps like Calibre, Apple Books, or Kindle
  • Remove personal information or unwanted tracking metadata before sharing EPUB files

How it works

  1. Upload: Select an EPUB file from your device
  2. Parse: The tool unzips the EPUB, locates the OPF file via container.xml, and extracts all metadata
  3. Edit: View the extracted fields in an editable list format
  4. Modify: Change values, add new fields, or remove existing ones
  5. Download: Generate a new EPUB file with updated metadata while preserving all other content

Limitations

  • Maximum file size depends on browser memory (typically works well with files up to 100MB)
  • DRM-protected EPUB files cannot be processed
  • Some complex metadata attributes (like opf:file-as or opf:role) are displayed but simplified when saved
  • The tool processes files entirely in your browser—no data is uploaded to any server

Tips

  • Use standard Dublin Core field names (title, creator, publisher, date, language, etc.) for maximum compatibility across ebook readers
  • For series information, use calibre:series and calibre:series_index fields which are widely supported
  • The identifier field should contain a unique book identifier—preferably an ISBN in the format isbn:1234567890
  • Date fields should follow ISO 8601 format: YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ