# gallery-dl — Batch Download Images and Videos from 100+ Sites

> gallery-dl is a command-line tool for downloading image galleries and collections from dozens of popular hosting sites, image boards, and social media platforms.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# gallery-dl — Batch Download Images and Videos from 100+ Sites

## Quick Use
```bash
pip install gallery-dl
gallery-dl https://imgur.com/a/EXAMPLE
```

## Introduction
gallery-dl is a Python-based command-line program that downloads image galleries and collections from a wide range of websites. It supports over 100 sites including social media platforms, image hosting services, and art communities, providing a unified interface for bulk media retrieval.

## What gallery-dl Does
- Downloads images, videos, and metadata from 100+ supported websites
- Supports authentication for sites requiring login credentials
- Applies customizable filename templates and directory structures
- Filters downloads by date, file type, tag, or rating
- Integrates with yt-dlp for embedded video extraction

## Architecture Overview
gallery-dl is written in Python and operates as a single-process CLI tool. Each supported site has a dedicated extractor module that handles URL parsing, API communication, and pagination. Downloads pass through a configurable pipeline that applies filename formatting, metadata extraction, and optional post-processing steps. Configuration is managed via a hierarchical JSON config file.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via pip, pipx, or your system package manager
- Configuration lives in `~/.config/gallery-dl/config.json`
- Set per-site credentials using the `username` and `password` fields or browser cookie import
- Customize output paths with replacement fields like `{category}`, `{title}`, `{id}`
- Use `--filter` expressions to skip files by size, dimensions, or tags

## Key Features
- Covers a broad range of sites: Pixiv, Twitter/X, Reddit, DeviantArt, Danbooru, Tumblr, and many more
- Writes metadata to JSON sidecar files for archival workflows
- Supports resuming interrupted downloads with an archive database
- Provides rate limiting and retry logic to avoid bans
- Extensible via custom extractors and post-processors

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **yt-dlp** — focused on video sites; gallery-dl covers image boards and galleries that yt-dlp does not
- **wget/curl** — generic HTTP downloaders without site-specific parsing or pagination
- **Hydrus Network** — a full media management application; gallery-dl is a lightweight CLI downloader
- **Imgbrd-Grabber** — GUI-based booru downloader; gallery-dl is terminal-first and supports more site types

## FAQ
**Q: How do I download from a site that requires login?**
A: Add your credentials to the config file under the site's extractor section, or use `--cookies-from-browser` to import session cookies.

**Q: Can gallery-dl skip files I have already downloaded?**
A: Yes. Enable the archive database with `--download-archive` and gallery-dl will track completed URLs.

**Q: Does it support proxy or VPN connections?**
A: Yes. Set the `proxy` option in the config or pass `--proxy` on the command line.

**Q: Is gallery-dl actively maintained?**
A: Yes. The project receives regular updates adding new extractors and fixing site changes.

## Sources
- https://github.com/mikf/gallery-dl
- https://gallery-dl.readthedocs.io

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-d970b67d
Author: Script Depot