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












5















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?










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  • I also found a similar question from a while ago: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110239/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:43













  • Also, for developers, this may help: stackoverflow.com/questions/52584510/…. The documentation is here: developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:44


















5















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

























  • I also found a similar question from a while ago: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110239/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:43













  • Also, for developers, this may help: stackoverflow.com/questions/52584510/…. The documentation is here: developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:44
















5












5








5


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






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share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited Dec 5 '18 at 23:30







jackxujh

















asked Dec 5 '18 at 23:26









jackxujhjackxujh

458112




458112













  • I also found a similar question from a while ago: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110239/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:43













  • Also, for developers, this may help: stackoverflow.com/questions/52584510/…. The documentation is here: developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:44





















  • I also found a similar question from a while ago: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110239/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:43













  • Also, for developers, this may help: stackoverflow.com/questions/52584510/…. The documentation is here: developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/…

    – jackxujh
    Dec 6 '18 at 7:44



















I also found a similar question from a while ago: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110239/…

– jackxujh
Dec 6 '18 at 7:43







I also found a similar question from a while ago: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/110239/…

– jackxujh
Dec 6 '18 at 7:43















Also, for developers, this may help: stackoverflow.com/questions/52584510/…. The documentation is here: developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/…

– jackxujh
Dec 6 '18 at 7:44







Also, for developers, this may help: stackoverflow.com/questions/52584510/…. The documentation is here: developer.apple.com/documentation/coreservices/…

– jackxujh
Dec 6 '18 at 7:44












1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















6














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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:29











  • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

    – Francis from ResponseBase
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:30











  • 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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:38











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









6














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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:29











  • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

    – Francis from ResponseBase
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:30











  • 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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:38
















6














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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:29











  • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

    – Francis from ResponseBase
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:30











  • 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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:38














6












6








6







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 Dec 5 '18 at 23:29









Francis from ResponseBaseFrancis from ResponseBase

51626




51626













  • Where is the metadata stored then?

    – jackxujh
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:29











  • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

    – Francis from ResponseBase
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:30











  • 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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:38



















  • Where is the metadata stored then?

    – jackxujh
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:29











  • @jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

    – Francis from ResponseBase
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:30











  • 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
    Dec 5 '18 at 23:38

















Where is the metadata stored then?

– jackxujh
Dec 5 '18 at 23:29





Where is the metadata stored then?

– jackxujh
Dec 5 '18 at 23:29













@jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

– Francis from ResponseBase
Dec 5 '18 at 23:30





@jackxujh it s a part of the file itself

– Francis from ResponseBase
Dec 5 '18 at 23:30













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
Dec 5 '18 at 23:38





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
Dec 5 '18 at 23:38


















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