Accessing metadata when debugging a device, comprising debug access port circuitry 25 that comprises: a debug interface 50 to receive commands from debugger 10; and bus interface 75 to couple to a bus 27 to enable the debugger to access a memory system of the device, the device operating on data formed of data granules having associated metadata items, and the bus interface enables communication of both the data granules and the metadata items over the bus between the memory system and the bus interface; storage elements 55, 60, 65 accessible via the commands from the debugger, such that accesses performed via the bus interface are controlled in dependence on the storage elements accessed by the commands; at least one storage element comprises metadata storage 70 to store metadata items; and the port circuitry is responsive to a command from the debugger to perform an access to the memory system in order to transfer at least one of the plurality of metadata items between the metadata storage element and the memory system.
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