Synopsis
********

The generic syntax is:

     ffprobe [options] [input_file]

Description
***********

FFprobe gathers information from multimedia streams and prints it in human- and machine-readable fashion.

For example it can be used to check the format of the container used by a multimedia stream and the format and type of each media stream contained in it.

If a filename is specified in input, ffprobe will try to open and probe the file content. If the file cannot be opened or recognized as a multimedia file, a positive exit code is returned.

FFprobe may be employed both as a standalone application or in combination with a textual filter, which may perform more sophisticated processing, e.g. statistical processing or plotting.

Options are used to list some of the formats supported by ffprobe or for specifying which information to display, and for setting how ffprobe will show it.

FFprobe output is designed to be easily parsable by a textual filter, and consists of one or more sections of the form:

     [SECTION]
     key1=val1
     ...
     keyN=valN
     [/SECTION]

Metadata tags stored in the container or in the streams are recognized and printed in the corresponding ``FORMAT'' or ``STREAM'' section, and are prefixed by the string ``TAG:''.

Options
*******

     [file fftools-common-opts.texi not included]

Main options
============

-convert_tags
     Convert the tag names in the format container to the generic FFmpeg tag names.

-f FORMAT
     Force format to use.

-unit
     Show the unit of the displayed values.

-prefix
     Show a SI prefixes of the displayed values. Unless ``-byte_binary_prefix'' option is used all the prefix are decimal.

-byte_binary_prefix
     Force the use of binary prefixes for byte values.

-sexagesimal
     Use sexagesimal format HH:MM:SS.MICROSECONDS for time values.

-pretty
     Prettify the format of the displayed values, it corresponds to the options ``-unit -prefix -byte_binary_prefix -sexagesimal''.

-show_format
     Show information about the container format of the input multimedia stream.

     All the container format information is printed within a section with name ``FORMAT''.

-show_packets
     Show information about each packet contained in the input multimedia stream.

     The information for each single packet is printed within a dedicated section with name ``PACKET''.

-show_streams
     Show information about each media stream contained in the input multimedia stream.

     Each media stream information is printed within a dedicated section with name ``STREAM''.

     [file protocols.texi not included]
     [file indevs.texi not included]