Feature Request: Metadata Support for Files (Search + Display)

[markthwain1797]

Introduce support for reading, displaying, and searching file metadata directly within FileBrowser Quantum.

The goal is to make metadata a first-class part of browsing and searching files, without requiring an external database or changing the core filesystem-based design.

Motivation

Many files already contain rich metadata that is currently unused in file browsing tools.

Examples include:

Images (EXIF, IPTC, XMP)
Audio files (artist, album, lyrics, etc.)
Video files (title, codec, duration, subtitles, etc.)
Documents (author, creation date, tags)

Right now, this information is typically ignored, even though it is often more useful than the filename itself.

A better integration of metadata would significantly improve search, filtering, and browsing experiences while staying aligned with a filesystem-first approach.

Proposed Features

1. Metadata Extraction

When indexing files, extract available metadata where applicable.
This should be format-agnostic and extensible.
Examples of metadata types:

Images: EXIF / IPTC / XMP fields
Audio: artist, album, track title, lyrics
Video: duration, title, subtitles, resolution
Documents: author, title, tags

2. Metadata Display

Provide a simple, consistent way to view metadata for a file.

This could be:

A metadata panel in the UI
Or an expandable section per file

The exact UI is less important than making metadata visible and accessible.

3. Metadata Search

Make metadata fields searchable as part of global search.

This allows users to find files based on embedded information rather than only directory structure or file names.

Benefits

Unlocks existing metadata already stored in files
Improves search without changing file organization
Works across many file types
Keeps FileBrowser Quantum simple
Enables better integration with “media mode” concepts already discussed

[gtsteffaniak]

Can you open an issue for this as a feature request?

[markthwain1797]

Sure did.
Hope it was correct like this: #2537