# man > ffmpeg-protocols(1) --- type: CommandReference command: ffmpeg-protocols mode: man section: 1 source: man-pages --- ## Quick Reference - `ffmpeg -i file:input.mpeg output.mpeg` — read local file (file protocol implicit) - `ffplay http://server/stream.m3u8` — stream HLS over HTTP - `cat test.wav | ffmpeg -i pipe:0` — read from stdin via pipe protocol - `ffmpeg -re -i input -f mpegts udp://host:port?pkt_size=188` — stream MPEG-TS over UDP - `ffmpeg -re -i input -f flv rtmp://server/live/stream` — stream to RTMP server - `ffmpeg -i input -f format tcp://host:port?listen` — act as TCP server - `ffplay concat:split1.mpeg\|split2.mpeg\|split3.mpeg` — concatenate multiple files on the fly - `ffmpeg -re -i input -f mpegts srt://host:port?mode=listener&latency=200000` — low-latency reliable streaming with SRT ## Name ffmpeg-protocols — FFmpeg input and output protocols ## Synopsis Protocols are specified in URLs, e.g. `protocol://resource?options`. Generic options can be set with `-option value` on the command line. The syntax for most protocols is: ffmpeg -i protocol://[user[:password]@]host[:port]/path ## Options ### Generic protocol options - `protocol_whitelist list` (input) — comma-separated list of allowed protocols. `"ALL"` for all; prefix with `-` to disable. Default: all allowed (nested protocols restricted to a subset). - `rw_timeout` — maximum time in microseconds to wait for read/write operations. ### Specific protocols #### file — local file access Syntax: `file:filename` (default protocol if no prefix). Options: - `truncate` — 0 (default 1) prevents file truncation on write. - `blocksize` — max I/O block size in bytes (default INT_MAX). - `follow` — if 1, retry reading at EOF for growing files. - `seekable` — 0=non-seekable, -1=auto (default). #### pipe — UNIX pipes Syntax: `pipe:[fd]` (0=stdin, 1=stdout, 2=stderr; default stdin for read, stdout for write). Options: `blocksize` (see file). #### concat — physical concatenation Syntax: `concat:URL1|URL2|...|URLN`. Joins multiple resources sequentially. Escape `|` in shell. #### cache — caching wrapper for input Syntax: `cache:URL`. Enables seeking on live streams. Options: - `read_ahead_limit` — bytes to read ahead when seeking unsupported (default 65536, -1=unlimited). #### async — asynchronous data filler (input) Syntax: `async:URL`. Fills data in background thread, e.g. `async:http://…` or `async:cache:http://…`. #### http — Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Syntax: `http://host[:port]/resource`. Options: - `seekable` — 0/1/-1 (auto). Default -1. - `chunked_post` — use chunked transfer encoding for POST (default 1). - `content_type` — set Content-Type header. - `http_proxy` — proxy URL, e.g. `http://proxy:1234`. - `headers` — custom HTTP headers (multi-line string). - `multiple_requests` — persistent connections (0/1, default 0). - `post_data` — custom POST data. - `referer` — set Referer header. - `user_agent` — override User-Agent (default `Lavf/`). Deprecated: `user-agent`. - `reconnect_at_eof` — reconnect on EOF (useful for live streams). - `reconnect_streamed` — reconnect streamed/non-seekable streams on error. - `reconnect_on_network_error` — reconnect on TCP/TLS connect errors. - `reconnect_on_http_error` — comma-separated list of HTTP status codes (e.g. `503,4xx`) to trigger reconnect. - `reconnect_delay_max` — maximum delay in seconds before giving up reconnection. - `mime_type` — export MIME type. - `http_version` — exports HTTP response version (e.g. `1.0`, `1.1`). - `icy` — request ICY metadata (SHOUTcast), default 1. - `icy_metadata_headers` — ICY-specific headers (if available). - `icy_metadata_packet` — the last non‑empty metadata packet from server. - `cookies` — cookies to send; format: `name=value; path=...; domain=...;`. Delimit multiple with newline. - `offset` — initial byte offset for request. - `end_offset` — limit request to bytes before this offset. - `method` — HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.). For servers, expected method. - `listen` — 1: single‑client HTTP server; 2: experimental multi‑client (not for CLI). See examples. - `send_expect_100` — send `Expect: 100-continue`. -1 auto, 0/1 override. - `auth_type` — `none` (auto), `basic`. #### hls — Apple HTTP Live Streaming Syntax: `hls+http://…` or `hls+file://…`. Discouraged; use the HLS demuxer directly with M3U8 URLs. #### ftp — File Transfer Protocol Syntax: `ftp://[user:password@]server[:port]/path`. Options: - `timeout` — socket I/O timeout in µs (default -1). - `ftp-user`, `ftp-password` — override URL credentials. - `ftp-anonymous-password` — anonymous login password (defaults to e‑mail). - `ftp-write-seekable` — seekability flag for output (0/1, default 0). #### gopher / gophers Gopher protocol (`gopher://…`) and Gopher with TLS (`gophers://…`). #### icecast — streaming to Icecast servers Syntax: `icecast://[user[:password]@]server:port/mountpoint`. Options: `ice_genre`, `ice_name`, `ice_description`, `ice_url`, `ice_public` (0/1), `user_agent`, `password`, `content_type`, `legacy_icecast` (for versions <2.4.0), `tls` (HTTPS). #### rtmp — Real‑Time Messaging Protocol Syntax: `rtmp://[user:password@]server[:port]/[app]/[playpath]`. Options (set via `‑RTMP_*` or as URI query): - `rtmp_app` — application name. - `rtmp_playpath` — stream identifier. - `rtmp_live` — `any`, `live`, `recorded`. - `rtmp_swfurl`, `rtmp_swfverify`, `rtmp_swfhash`, `rtmp_swfsize` — SWF verification. - `rtmp_tcurl` — target stream URL. - `rtmp_flashver` — Flash plugin version. - `rtmp_conn` — extra AMF connection parameters. - `rtmp_flush_interval` — packet flush count (RTMPT only). - `rtmp_buffer` — client buffer time (ms, default 3000). - `timeout` — incoming connection wait. - `listen` — act as server. Encrypted variants: **rtmpe**, **rtmps** (SSL). Tunneled variants: **rtmpt**, **rtmpte**, **rtmpts**. All share RTMP options. #### rtp — Real‑time Transport Protocol Syntax: `rtp://hostname[:port][?option=val...]`. URL options: - `ttl`, `rtcpport`, `localrtpport`, `localrtcpport`, `pkt_size`, `buffer_size`. - `connect` — 0/1. - `sources`, `block` — IP lists. - `write_to_source` — 0/1. - `localport` — deprecated; use `localrtpport`. #### rtsp — Real‑Time Streaming Protocol Syntax: `rtsp://hostname[:port]/path`. Options: - `rtsp_transport` — `udp`, `tcp`, `udp_multicast`, `http`. - `rtsp_flags` — `filter_src`, `listen`, `prefer_tcp`. - `allowed_media_types` — `video`, `audio`, `data`. - `min_port`, `max_port` — UDP port range (default 5000‑65000). - `timeout` — infinite if -1; implies `listen`. - `reorder_queue_size` — packet reordering buffer size. - `stimeout` — socket TCP I/O timeout in µs. - `user-agent` — override User-Agent. #### sap — Session Announcement Protocol Muxer syntax: `sap://destination[:port][?options]`. Options: `announce_addr`, `announce_port`, `ttl`, `same_port`. Demuxer syntax: `sap://[address][:port]`. Listens for SAP announcements and auto‑starts reception. #### srt — Secure Reliable Transport (Haivision) Syntax: `srt://hostname:port[?options]` or `-option val srt://...`. Key options: - `mode` — `caller`, `listener`, `rendezvous`. - `latency` — delivery delay in µs (sets `rcvlatency` and `peerlatency`). - `rcvlatency`, `peerlatency` — separate latency values. - `connect_timeout`, `listen_timeout`, `timeout` — in µs. - `maxbw`, `inputbw`, `oheadbw` — bandwidth control. - `mss` — max segment size (default 1500). - `payload_size` / `pkt_size` — max packet size (default 1316 for live). - `ffs` — flight flag size. - `recv_buffer_size`, `send_buffer_size`. - `passphrase`, `pbkeylen`, `enforced_encryption` — encryption. - `transtype` — `live` or `file`. - `messageapi` — 0 (stream) or 1 (message). - `tlpktdrop` — too‑late packet drop. - `streamid` — optional stream identifier. - `minversion` — hex version (e.g. `0x010300`). - See [Haivision/srt](https://github.com/Haivision/srt) for more. #### srtp — Secure RTP Syntax: `srtp://host…`. Options: `srtp_in_suite`, `srtp_out_suite` (AES_CM_128_HMAC_SHA1_80 etc.), `srtp_in_params`, `srtp_out_params` (base64 master key + salt). #### rist — Reliable Internet Streaming Transport Options: `rist_profile` (simple, main, advanced), `buffer_size`, `pkt_size`, `log_level`, `secret`, `encryption` (128, 256). #### udp — User Datagram Protocol Syntax: `udp://hostname:port[?options]`. Options: - `buffer_size` — socket buffer size in bytes. - `bitrate` — constant output bitrate if nonzero. - `burst_bits` — max bits in bursts for `bitrate`. - `localport`, `localaddr`. - `pkt_size` — packet size. - `reuse` — 0/1. - `ttl` — multicast TTL. - `connect` — 0/1. - `sources`, `block` — address lists. - `fifo_size` — circular buffer size in 188‑byte units (default 7*4096). - `overrun_nonfatal` — survive buffer overruns. - `timeout` — raise error if no data within µs. - `broadcast` — 0/1. #### tcp — Transmission Control Protocol Syntax: `tcp://hostname:port[?options]`. Options: - `listen` — 0 (off), 1 (single client), 2 (multi‑client). - `timeout` — read timeout in µs. - `listen_timeout` — ms. - `recv_buffer_size`, `send_buffer_size` — bytes. - `tcp_nodelay` — disable Nagle (0/1). - `tcp_mss` — max segment size. #### tls / ssl — Transport Layer Security Syntax: `tls://hostname:port[?options]`. Options: - `ca_file` / `cafile` — trusted root CA file (PEM). - `tls_verify` — 0/1 (default 0). - `cert_file` / `cert` — certificate file. - `key_file` / `key` — private key file. - `listen` — 0/1 (server mode). - `http_proxy` — use HTTP CONNECT proxy. #### sctp — Stream Control Transmission Protocol Syntax: `sctp://host:port[?options]`. Options: `listen`, `max_streams`. #### zmq — ZeroMQ messaging (via libzmq) Syntax: `zmq:tcp://ip:port`. Publish‑subscribe pattern. Options: `pkt_size` (default 131072). Requires `--enable-libzmq`. #### amqp — Advanced Message Queueing Protocol (0-9-1) Requires `--enable-librabbitmq`. Syntax: `amqp://[[user]:[password]@]hostname[:port][/vhost]`. Options: `exchange` (default `amq.direct`), `routing_key`, `pkt_size`, `connection_timeout`, `delivery_mode` (`persistent` or `non-persistent`). #### libsmbclient — CIFS/SMB Syntax: `smb://[[domain:]user[:password@]]server[/share[/path[/file]]]`. Options: `timeout`, `truncate`, `workgroup`. #### libssh — SFTP via libssh Syntax: `sftp://[user[:password]@]server[:port]/path`. Options: `timeout`, `truncate`, `private_key` (default `~/.ssh/`). #### bluray — read Blu‑ray playlists Syntax: `bluray:/mnt/bluray`. Options: `angle`, `chapter`, `playlist` (e.g., `BDMV/PLAYLIST/00000.mpls`). #### crypto — AES‑encrypted stream Syntax: `crypto:URL` or `crypto+URL`. Options: `key` (hex key), `iv` (hex initialization vector). #### data — inline data URI Syntax: `data:image/gif;base64,...`. Converts inline data. #### md5 — MD5 hash output Syntax: `md5:filename` or `md5:`. Writes MD5 hash instead of actual file data. Not seekable. #### prompeg — Pro‑MPEG CoP #3 FEC Used with `-f rtp_mpegts` muxer and RTP. Syntax: `-fec prompeg=l=:d=`. Col/row range 4‑20, L×D ≤ 100. Example: `-f rtp_mpegts -fec prompeg=l=8:d=4 rtp://host:port`. #### subfile — extract a segment Syntax: `subfile,,start,SIZE,end,SIZE,,:URL`. Unit: bytes. Underlying stream must be seekable. #### tee — replicate output to multiple protocols Syntax: `tee:protocol1|protocol2|...` #### mmst, mmsh — Microsoft Media Server `mmst://...` (TCP), `mmsh://server[:port][/app][/playpath]` (HTTP). #### unix — local Unix sockets Syntax: `unix://filepath`. Options: `timeout`, `listen`. ## Examples shell # Read angle 2 of playlist 4, start from chapter 2 on Blu‑ray ffplay -playlist 4 -angle 2 -chapter 2 bluray:/mnt/bluray # Decrypt an AES‑encrypted stream ffplay crypto+http://example.com/encrypted.ts?key=1a2b3c4d...&iv=... # Compute MD5 of encoded output (without writing media to disk) ffmpeg -i input.flv -f avi md5:output.avi.md5 # Concatenate two remote resources ffplay concat:http://example.com/part1.mpg|http://example.com/part2.mpg # Extract a DVD chapter (sector offsets multiplied by 2048) ffplay subfile,,start,153391104,end,268142592,,:/media/dvd/VIDEO_TS/VTS_08_1.VOB # Stream via RTSP to a server for others to watch ffmpeg -re -i input -f rtsp -muxdelay 0.1 rtsp://server/live.sdp # Act as RTSP server and receive stream ffmpeg -rtsp_flags listen -i rtsp://ownaddress/live.sdp output.ts ## See Also - [ffmpeg(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/ffmpeg/1/markdown) - [ffplay(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/ffplay/1/markdown) - [ffprobe(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/ffprobe/1/markdown) - [libavformat(3)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/libavformat/3/markdown)