yt-dlp
agent-ready json output non-interactive
A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader supporting thousands of sites. Outputs structured metadata and supports format selection.
How to install yt-dlp
brew install yt-dlp When to use yt-dlp
- Downloading video or audio content from a supported platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo) for local archival or offline analysis
- Extracting structured metadata (e.g., captions, chapters, formats) from online media for programmatic processing or indexing
- Selecting a specific video/audio format and quality (e.g., highest resolution, best audio codec) when default download options are insufficient
When not to use yt-dlp
- Streaming live content or real-time media consumption where direct playback is needed (yt-dlp is a downloader, not a player)
- Downloading content from sites with active legal or copyright restrictions that prohibit automated access or redistribution
yt-dlp features
- · 1000+ site support
- · JSON metadata output
- · Format selection
- · Subtitle extraction
- · SponsorBlock integration
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