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What is yt-dlp?

Introduction to yt-dlp​

yt-dlp is an open-source, command-line program designed for downloading videos from YouTube and a vast array of other video hosting websites. It is a fork of the popular youtube-dl project, enhanced with additional features, improved performance, and regular updates.

Key Features​

  • Multi-platform Support: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other UNIX-like operating systems.
  • Wide Site Compatibility: Supports thousands of video hosting sites beyond just YouTube.
  • Format Flexibility: Allows downloading of various video and audio formats.
  • Playlist and Channel Support: Can download entire playlists, channels, or user uploads.
  • Advanced Selection Options: Offers sophisticated format selection and sorting capabilities.
  • Metadata Extraction: Retrieves and embeds relevant metadata in downloaded files.
  • Live Stream Support: Capable of downloading ongoing live streams.
  • SponsorBlock Integration: Can mark or remove sponsor segments in YouTube videos.
  • Extensibility: Supports plugins for custom extractors and post-processors.

Why Choose yt-dlp?​

yt-dlp builds upon the foundation of youtube-dl, addressing many of its limitations:

  • Active Development: Regularly updated with new features and bug fixes.
  • Improved Performance: Offers faster downloads and better handling of rate limiting.
  • Enhanced Error Handling: More robust against network issues and site changes.
  • Extended Functionality: Includes features like SponsorBlock integration and improved format selection.

Use Cases​

yt-dlp serves a variety of purposes:

  • Personal archiving of online videos
  • Offline viewing of educational content
  • Research and data collection
  • Media preservation
  • Content creation and remixing (where permitted)

Ethical Considerations​

While yt-dlp is a powerful tool, users should be mindful of:

  • Copyright laws and content ownership
  • Terms of service of video hosting platforms
  • Ethical use of bandwidth and server resources

Getting Started​

To begin using yt-dlp, you'll need to install it on your system. The next sections will guide you through the installation process and basic usage. Whether you're a casual user or a power user, yt-dlp offers the flexibility and capabilities to meet your video downloading needs.