ID3
ID3, or ID3 tag, is a metadata format, used in MP3 audio files. It stores information such as the song title, artist, and album.
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Format details
There are two major versions. ID3v1 defines a fixed-length data block that is always placed at the end of the file. ID3v2, which has very little in common with ID3v1, defines a block with variable-length frames and allows more flexibility and verbosity. ID3v2 data usually appears at the beginning of the file. It is possible, and common, for a file to have both ID3v1 and ID3v2 metadata.
As of 2017, it seems there are essentially three versions of ID3v2 to be aware of: v2.2.x, v2.3.x, and v2.4.x. These formats have some critical differences, and are definitely not compatible with each other.
Identification
An MP3 file with an ID3v2 tag begins with ASCII "ID3".
For an MP3 file with an ID3v1 tag, ASCII "TAG" appears beginning 128 bytes from the end of the file.
Specifications
- ID3.org Developer Information
- ID3v2.4.0: Main Structure · Native Frames
- ID3v2.3.0: Plain text · HTML
- ID3v2.2.0
- ID3v1
- ID3 tag version 2 (Another copy of v2.2.0)
- MPEG Audio Tag ID3v1
