File metadata refers to descriptive information about a file, such as its name, creation date, modification date, file type, author, tags, comments, location (path), and specific attributes like camera settings for photos or artist for music. Unlike searching within the file's actual content (full text), metadata searching uses these external properties. This allows you to find files based on when they were worked on, who created them, or how they've been categorized, offering a powerful alternative or complement to keyword searches.

Most modern operating systems and file management tools support metadata searching. On Windows, use File Explorer's search box and refine your query using search filters like "datecreated:", "tag:", or "kind:"; for example, tag:ProjectX or datemodified:last week. On macOS, use Spotlight (Cmd+Space) or Finder search, then click the "+" button to add criteria like "Date Modified," "Kind," or specific tags. Cloud storage like Google Drive also lets you search by owner or date modified directly in the search bar. Photographers and researchers frequently use metadata searches to quickly locate images by camera model (e.g., camera:Nikon in photo software) or documents from a specific period.

Searching by metadata is highly efficient for sorting large volumes of files based on attributes, saving significant time over manual browsing. Key advantages include precise filtering and organization based on file characteristics. However, its effectiveness depends on consistent and accurate metadata; poorly tagged files or tools that don't extract certain metadata types (like custom fields) limit its usefulness. Ethical considerations arise around privacy if metadata exposes location or ownership data unintentionally. Advancements in AI could automate metadata tagging, further enhancing search accuracy and productivity across various fields.