NFT Metadata and Mint Addresses
An NFT is identified on-chain by its asset or mint identity. The image, name and traits you see in a viewer come from metadata associated with that identity.
Key idea
Use the on-chain identifier to establish which asset you are viewing; treat metadata as descriptive information attached to it.
In this guide
Related workflow
NFT & Collectibles →Identity comes before imagery
Two assets can point to visually identical media. Their on-chain identifiers are what distinguish them and anchor their ownership history.
Metadata may live elsewhere
Names, images, attributes and creator details are often referenced by the on-chain asset rather than stored entirely inside the token account itself.
Check collection and creator context
Collection grouping, creator addresses and royalty information can help establish context, but they should still be compared with the project’s official references.
Primary references
Documentation and standards
References added
Official technical references for further verification. A source link is not a guarantee that every earlier editorial sentence has been reverified; provider specifications may also change over time.
Originally published 2026-09-13 · Guide text last updated 2026-09-19 · Reference links and live examples updated 2026-10-24
- NFT metadata standardsOpenSeaRead source ↗
- ERC-721 non-fungible token standardEthereum Improvement ProposalsRead source ↗
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