# Camera metadata
Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70020-50/topic/gst-camera-metadata-example.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70020-50/topic/gst-camera-metadata-example.html)
The **gst-camera-metadata-example** application starts with a menu that allows you
to choose between multiple properties of the camera plugin such as
`video-metadata`, `static-metadata`, and
`image-metadata`.
A practical use case for this application is handling camera metadata such as white
balance, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sensitivity, and
exposure to tune the camera.
The following figure shows the execution of appsink when a new sample is available in the
pipeline. The application is run from the command-line with specific options for custom
pipeline, display type, and timestamp location.
For information about the plugins used in this pipeline, see [Pipeline flow](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70020-50/topic/gst-camera-metadata-example.html#gst-camera-metadata-example__section_cgf_tpf_4bc).
Figure : gst-camera-metadata-example pipeline
## Prerequisites
- [Get started with the Qualcomm IM SDK](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70020-51/install-sdk.html)
for your Qualcomm Linux 1.5 or Ubuntu Server.
- Activate SSH on your Qualcomm Linux or Ubuntu to sign in with SSH and connect to
the target device. For instructions see:
- [Sign in using SSH](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70020-254/how_to.html#use-ssh) for Qualcomm
Linux
- [Sign in using SSH](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-90441-1/Use_Ubuntu_on_RB3_Gen2_3.html#sign-in-to-the-rb3-gen-2-console-using-ssh) for Ubuntu
Server
Note: If SSH is already set up and Wi-Fi is
connected, skip this step.
- Use the HDMI port to connect the display to the device. For instructions, see
[Set up HDMI display](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70020-18/samples.html).
- Sign in to the target device using SSH.
- In the terminal of the target device, run the following commands from the SSH
shell of the target device to activate the display on the host computer:
- For
Linux:
export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/dev/socket/weston && export WAYLAND_DISPLAY=wayland-1Copy to clipboard
- For Ubuntu Server:
export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/$(id -u ubuntu)/ && export WAYLAND_DISPLAY=wayland-1 Copy to clipboard
- Connect the speaker to activate the audio on the target device. For
instructions, see [Set up audio hardware](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70020-16/enable-audio.html).
If you face
issues in recording the audio, run the following command in the terminal of
the target
device:
pactl set-default-source pal_source_speaker_micCopy to clipboard
- If you face issues with the camera or display, see [Camera troubleshooting](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70020-17/troubleshooting.html) and [Display troubleshooting](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70020-18/debug.html).
## Run the application
1. In the terminal of the target device, run the respective command for any of
the following use cases:
- Camera metadata use
case:
gst-camera-metadata-example -d 1Copy to clipboard
- Custom pipeline use
case:
gst-camera-metadata-example -p "qtiqmmfsrc name=camera camera.video_0 ! video/x-raw,format=NV12,width=1280,height=720,framerate=30/1,interlace-mode=progressive,colorimetry=bt601 ! queue ! appsink name=sink emit-signals=true enable-last-sample=false"Copy to clipboard
2. To stop the use case, use CTRL +
C.
3. In the terminal of the target device, run the following command in the SSH
shell to display the available help
options:
gst-camera-metadata-example --helpCopy to clipboard
## Expected output
- During the execution, the application requires the command-line options to
output the camera metadata and options available to set or get the vendor
tags.
- On successful execution of the application, you can find and dump the respective
metadata information.
Figure : Expected output for gst-camera-metadata-example application
## Pipeline flow
The following table lists the plugins used in the camera metadata
pipeline:
| Plugin | Description |
| --- | --- |
| [qtiqmmfsrc](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70020-50/topic/qtiqmmfsrc.html) | Captures the camera feed and sends it into the capsfilter. |
| Capsfilter | Passes the feed to [Waylandsink](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70020-50/topic/waylandsink.html) for display. |
| Capsfilter | If display option isn't provided, passes the feed to appsink. |
| | |
The application extracts the buffer from the sample for further processing. During
execution, the application expects an argument on which the following options should
be displayed on the console.
- Video metadata
- Image metadata
- Static metadata
- Session metadata
Based on the options selected, the application displays the output on the
console.
## Known issue
When the GetTag menu option is selected,
the capture options don't work.
**Parent Topic:** [Run sample applications for a camera](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70020-50/topic/camera-sample-applications.html)
Last Published: Jan 30, 2026
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