What is a .YTDL file?
A .YTDL file is a type of JSON file used by youtube-dl, a program designed to download videos from YouTube and other video hosting services. This file helps the program keep track of the progress of video downloads. Specifically, it records which parts of the video have already been downloaded. This is useful because if the download process is paused or interrupted, youtube-dl can resume downloading from where it left off, using the information stored in the .YTDL file.
Once youtube-dl completes the download of a video, it no longer needs the .YTDL file and automatically deletes it. This means you typically won't see this file unless a download is currently in progress or has been paused.
You can open a .YTDL file with youtube-dl or yt-dlp, which is a newer version of youtube-dl that is more actively maintained. Additionally, since .YTDL files are formatted in JSON, you can also open them with any text editor like Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, or any other text editing software. This can be useful if you want to view the contents of the file, which includes details about the download status.
In summary, .YTDL files are temporary files created by youtube-dl or yt-dlp during the video download process. They help manage and resume downloads but are automatically deleted once the download is complete. You can view these files using the programs mentioned or any basic text editor.
Verification
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