how to download youtube video with yt-dlp

yt-dlp is a command-line tool for downloading online audio and video, especially from YouTube. It works by parsing the source code and retrieving media files. To use yt-dlp for downloading YouTube videos, install it, copy the video URL, and execute t

What is yt-dlp and how does it work?

yt-dlp is a versatile command-line tool for downloading audio and video from online sources, including YouTube. It's a fork of the popular YouTube-dl utility, offering enhanced functionality and a user-friendly interface. yt-dlp operates by parsing the source website's code and retrieving the necessary media files. It supports a wide range of streaming services, providing a convenient and comprehensive solution for downloading online content.

How to use yt-dlp to download YouTube videos?

To download a YouTube video using yt-dlp, follow these steps:

1. Install yt-dlp: Depending on your operating system, consult the yt-dlp documentation for installation instructions.
2. Copy the YouTube video URL: Go to the YouTube video you want to download and copy its URL from the address bar.
3. Open the command line: Launch a terminal or command prompt on your computer.
4. Navigate to the desired download location: Use the "cd" command to change the working directory to the location where you want to save the downloaded video.

5. Execute the yt-dlp command: Type the following command into the command line, replacing "VIDEO_URL" with the copied YouTube video URL:

   <code class="sh">yt-dlp VIDEO_URL</code>

   (Optional) Specify the desired output format: You can specify the output format by adding the "-f" option followed by the desired code from the list of available formats. For example, to download the highest quality video, use "-f bestvideo".

Example:

<code class="sh">yt-dlp -f bestvideo VIDEO_URL</code>

What are the different options available in yt-dlp for downloading YouTube videos?

yt-dlp provides a wide range of options for customizing the download process, including:

• -o, --output: Specify the output filename (including path).
• -f, --format: Specify the output format (e.g., video, audio, or specific quality).
• -r, --rate-limit: Limit the download speed (in bytes per second).
• --write-info-json: Write metadata about the downloaded video as a JSON file.
• --write-description: Write the video's description to a text file.
• --write-sub: Download and embed subtitles.
• --convert-subs: Convert external subtitles to internal subtitles (e.g., SRT to VOB).
• --skip-download: Download only metadata and info about the video without the actual media files.

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