PDF developer workflow

How to inspect PDF metadata before sharing a file

A PDF may contain a document information dictionary and XMP metadata; checking one does not check the other.

Practical checklist

1. Start with a synthetic PDF containing invented author and software fields.
2. Inspect both the Info dictionary and XMP metadata if present.
3. Compare the original and a cleaned copy using the same inspection workflow.
4. Open the finished PDF and verify that intended visible content remains readable.

What to verify

Metadata inspection does not prove attachments, comments, hidden page objects or visible private text have been removed.

Why this matters for a developer

A repeatable metadata check is useful when a document pipeline produces files for external recipients.

Technical reference: Read the source documentation.