Embedding metadata in files allows easy sharing and transfer of files across products, vendors, platforms, customers, without metadata getting lost. The most common metadata tags recorded in XMP data are those from the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, which include things like title, description, creator, and so on. The standard is designed to be extensible, allowing users to add their own custom types of metadata into the XMP data. XMP generally does not allow binary data types to be embedded. This means that any binary data one wants to carry in XMP, such as thumbnail images, must be encoded in some XML-friendly format, such as Base64.
Metaandmete põimimine failidesse lubab faile hõlpsalt jagada ja edastada toodete, tarnijate, platvormide, tarbijate vahel ilma metaandmeid kaotamata. Levinuimad XMP- andmetes salvestatavad metaandmete sildid on pärit Dublin Core Metadata Initiative' ilt, sisaldades selliseid andmeid nagu pealkiri, kirjeldus, looja jms. Standard on loodud laiendatavana, lubades kasutajatel lisada XMP- andmetesse omaenda metaandmete tüüpe. XMP ei võimalda üldiselt põimida binaarandmete tüüpe. See tähendab, et binaarandmed, mida soovitakse XMP- ga kaasa panna, näiteks pisipildid, peavad olema kodeeritud mingis XML- sõbralikus vormingus, näiteks Base64.