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mat2

github.com/jvoisin/mat2 File Utilities Open-source projectOpen source

mat2 removes metadata from commonly used file formats and is written in Python, according to its repository description.

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github.com/jvoisin/mat2
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About mat2

mat2 is an open source metadata removal tool written in Python 3. Its core is a library, libmat2, which is used by a command-line interface named mat2 and by file manager extensions, including a service menu for the Dolphin file manager. It supports a wide range of common formats, including images, audio, video, PDF, Office documents, SVG, and archive files.

By default, mat2 does not change the original file. It writes a cleaned copy with ".cleaned" added to the file name, such as "myfile.cleaned.png". The --inplace option cleans a file in place without a backup. The source states that mat2 cannot reliably detect every possible kind of metadata, so the absence of metadata shown by --show should not be taken as proof that a file is clean. The lightweight mode removes only some metadata, and the default mode may alter file content, for example by making text in PDFs no longer selectable. The source lists Python 3.11 or later and several system dependencies, with setup instructions for macOS using Homebrew.

Key features

  • Removes metadata from many common image, audio, video, document, and archive formats
  • Command-line tool that writes a cleaned copy and leaves the original file unchanged
  • The --inplace option cleans a file without keeping a backup
  • The --show option lists detectable metadata without removing it
  • Lightweight mode (-L) removes some metadata rather than as much as possible
  • Core library, libmat2, can be used by other software
Best for: Users comfortable with the command line who want to remove metadata from files, such as photos or documents, before sharing them.
Good for
  • Open source, with the source code publicly available in the repository
  • Supports a wide range of commonly used file formats
  • Includes a test suite and coverage instructions in the repository
Watch out for
  • The source states there is no reliable way to detect every possible metadata in complex file formats
  • Lightweight and default modes may alter file content, such as making PDF text unselectable
  • Requires Python 3.11 or later and several additional system libraries

mat2 at a glance

Type
Open-source project
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Platforms
macOS
Open source
Yes · Source code
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026
open sourcesvgcommand linemetadata removal

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mat2 FAQ

Does mat2 overwrite my original files?
No. By default it creates a cleaned copy with ".cleaned" added to the file name, such as "myfile.cleaned.png". The --inplace option cleans a file in place without a backup.
Can mat2 confirm that a file has no metadata left?
No. The source says mat2 does its best to display metadata with --show, but a file showing no metadata is not necessarily clean, and users should not rely on metadata presence or absence to decide whether to clean a file.
What does lightweight mode do?
Lightweight mode, enabled with -L, removes some metadata. The source says the default mode removes as much metadata as possible and may alter file data to do so.
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Listing maintained by Chris McClure and the WebIndexly editors · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · How we rank