# yt-dlp — Feature-Rich Audio & Video Downloader

> yt-dlp is a feature-rich command-line tool for downloading audio and video from thousands of websites. A community-maintained fork of youtube-dl with active development, format selection, post-processing, and SponsorBlock integration.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# yt-dlp — Feature-Rich Audio & Video Downloader

## Quick Use
```bash
pip install yt-dlp
yt-dlp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 URL   # extract audio only
```

## Introduction
yt-dlp is a community-maintained fork of youtube-dl that adds new features, fixes bugs, and stays current with site changes. It supports downloading from thousands of video and audio hosting platforms with fine-grained control over format, quality, subtitles, and metadata.

## What yt-dlp Does
- Downloads video and audio from 1000+ websites including YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, and SoundCloud
- Selects specific formats, resolutions, and codecs via a powerful format selection syntax
- Merges separate audio and video streams automatically using FFmpeg
- Integrates with SponsorBlock to skip or remove sponsored segments
- Supports playlists, channels, authentication, cookies, and rate limiting

## Architecture Overview
yt-dlp is a single Python package that bundles hundreds of site-specific extractors. Each extractor knows how to parse a particular website's HTML or API to locate media URLs. The downloader module handles HTTP, HLS, and DASH streams, while the post-processor pipeline can convert formats, embed metadata, and write subtitles.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via pip, pipx, brew, or download standalone binaries from GitHub Releases
- Place a config file at `~/.config/yt-dlp/config` with default flags
- Use `--cookies-from-browser chrome` to pass authentication for age-restricted or private content
- Set `--output` templates to organize downloads by uploader, date, or title
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows with Python 3.8+

## Key Features
- Active development with frequent releases tracking upstream site changes
- SponsorBlock integration for skipping sponsor segments in downloaded videos
- Aria2c and multi-threaded download support for faster transfers
- Built-in format merging and post-processing without manual FFmpeg commands
- Embeds thumbnails, subtitles, and metadata into output files automatically

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **youtube-dl** — the original project; yt-dlp adds speed improvements, bug fixes, and SponsorBlock
- **gallery-dl** — focused on image galleries rather than video
- **Tartube** — GUI frontend that wraps yt-dlp for users who prefer a visual interface
- **JDownloader** — general-purpose download manager with broader link support but heavier footprint
- **Streamlink** — specialized in live streams rather than VOD downloads

## FAQ
**Q: Is yt-dlp legal to use?**
A: yt-dlp is a tool; legality depends on the content you download and your jurisdiction's copyright laws. Downloading content you have permission to access is generally fine.

**Q: How do I update yt-dlp?**
A: Run `yt-dlp -U` for self-update, or `pip install -U yt-dlp` if installed via pip.

**Q: Can yt-dlp download live streams?**
A: Yes, it can record live streams from YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms that support it.

**Q: How does format selection work?**
A: Use `-f` with format codes, e.g., `-f bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio` to cap resolution and merge with best audio.

## Sources
- https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp
- https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/05ad6f38-44f8-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: Script Depot