How does Finder keep track of downloaded files' original URLs?











up vote
4
down vote

favorite
1












When you open the info window, i.e. Get Info, of a downloaded file, Finder will show you the downloaded origin, called Where from. This information is there even the file is moved or slightly modified. How does Finder achieve this? Is it a feature of the file system?










share|improve this question




























    up vote
    4
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    When you open the info window, i.e. Get Info, of a downloaded file, Finder will show you the downloaded origin, called Where from. This information is there even the file is moved or slightly modified. How does Finder achieve this? Is it a feature of the file system?










    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      When you open the info window, i.e. Get Info, of a downloaded file, Finder will show you the downloaded origin, called Where from. This information is there even the file is moved or slightly modified. How does Finder achieve this? Is it a feature of the file system?










      share|improve this question















      When you open the info window, i.e. Get Info, of a downloaded file, Finder will show you the downloaded origin, called Where from. This information is there even the file is moved or slightly modified. How does Finder achieve this? Is it a feature of the file system?







      finder






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 7 hours ago

























      asked 7 hours ago









      jackxujh

      436112




      436112






















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          4
          down vote













          In the metadata associated to a file. Use xattr from the command line to see and manipulate the metadata. Using ‘get info’ in the GUI is not equivalent, but should allow you to see some metadata attributes, including the originating URL.






          share|improve this answer





















          • Where is the metadata stored then?
            – jackxujh
            7 hours ago










          • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
            – Francis from ResponseBase
            7 hours ago










          • Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
            – jackxujh
            6 hours ago











          Your Answer








          StackExchange.ready(function() {
          var channelOptions = {
          tags: "".split(" "),
          id: "118"
          };
          initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

          StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
          // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
          if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
          StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
          createEditor();
          });
          }
          else {
          createEditor();
          }
          });

          function createEditor() {
          StackExchange.prepareEditor({
          heartbeatType: 'answer',
          convertImagesToLinks: false,
          noModals: true,
          showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
          reputationToPostImages: null,
          bindNavPrevention: true,
          postfix: "",
          imageUploader: {
          brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
          contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
          allowUrls: true
          },
          onDemand: true,
          discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
          ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
          });


          }
          });














          draft saved

          draft discarded


















          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fapple.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f344843%2fhow-does-finder-keep-track-of-downloaded-files-original-urls%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown

























          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          4
          down vote













          In the metadata associated to a file. Use xattr from the command line to see and manipulate the metadata. Using ‘get info’ in the GUI is not equivalent, but should allow you to see some metadata attributes, including the originating URL.






          share|improve this answer





















          • Where is the metadata stored then?
            – jackxujh
            7 hours ago










          • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
            – Francis from ResponseBase
            7 hours ago










          • Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
            – jackxujh
            6 hours ago















          up vote
          4
          down vote













          In the metadata associated to a file. Use xattr from the command line to see and manipulate the metadata. Using ‘get info’ in the GUI is not equivalent, but should allow you to see some metadata attributes, including the originating URL.






          share|improve this answer





















          • Where is the metadata stored then?
            – jackxujh
            7 hours ago










          • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
            – Francis from ResponseBase
            7 hours ago










          • Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
            – jackxujh
            6 hours ago













          up vote
          4
          down vote










          up vote
          4
          down vote









          In the metadata associated to a file. Use xattr from the command line to see and manipulate the metadata. Using ‘get info’ in the GUI is not equivalent, but should allow you to see some metadata attributes, including the originating URL.






          share|improve this answer












          In the metadata associated to a file. Use xattr from the command line to see and manipulate the metadata. Using ‘get info’ in the GUI is not equivalent, but should allow you to see some metadata attributes, including the originating URL.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 7 hours ago









          Francis from ResponseBase

          44126




          44126












          • Where is the metadata stored then?
            – jackxujh
            7 hours ago










          • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
            – Francis from ResponseBase
            7 hours ago










          • Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
            – jackxujh
            6 hours ago


















          • Where is the metadata stored then?
            – jackxujh
            7 hours ago










          • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
            – Francis from ResponseBase
            7 hours ago










          • Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
            – jackxujh
            6 hours ago
















          Where is the metadata stored then?
          – jackxujh
          7 hours ago




          Where is the metadata stored then?
          – jackxujh
          7 hours ago












          @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
          – Francis from ResponseBase
          7 hours ago




          @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself
          – Francis from ResponseBase
          7 hours ago












          Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
          – jackxujh
          6 hours ago




          Thanks! I got it! I can run $ xattr -l cat_video.mp4 to show a list of attributes in both hex and text, or without -l to show only name of attributes. And other parameters with other usages as well!
          – jackxujh
          6 hours ago


















          draft saved

          draft discarded




















































          Thanks for contributing an answer to Ask Different!


          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

          But avoid



          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





          Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


          Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

          But avoid



          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




          draft saved


          draft discarded














          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fapple.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f344843%2fhow-does-finder-keep-track-of-downloaded-files-original-urls%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown





















































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown

































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown







          Popular posts from this blog

          Understanding the information contained in the Deep Space Network XML data?

          Ross-on-Wye

          Eastern Orthodox Church