The chemical reactions and pathways involving fractalkine, a chemokine involved in the control of the key regulatory mechanisms of cell trafficking at sites of inflammation. It exists as a secreted protein and in a membrane-bound form, and exhibits a novel C-X-X-X-C cysteine signature motif. The counterpart of human fractalkine is murine neurotactin; fractalkine is also referred to as CX3C membrane-anchored chemokine or ABCD-3 and has been renamed CX3CL1.