Metadata, sidecars and external dependencies
Metadata describes content or settings. Distinguish a separate sidecar from external data needed to load a file, and check where each item is stored.
Key point
List required files and settings and verify them with the recipient; do not assume the main file is self-contained.
Storage locations differ
Descriptions and settings can be embedded, stored in sidecars or kept only in an application database. Camera Raw XMP is one example, not a rule shared by all formats.
Sidecars are not all dependencies
A sidecar holds associated descriptions or settings. A glTF buffer or image can be required data, not merely a description. Preserve names, relative paths and matching versions.
Preservation and disclosure differ
After moving, renaming or converting, check associations and loading results. Metadata does not guarantee all edit history or identical rendering and may contain location or personal details. Keep originals and inspect sharing copies separately.