ffprobe

ffprobe analyzes multimedia files and streams, extracting information about duration, codecs, bitrates, chapters, and more — without modifying the file.

Synopsis

ffprobe [options] [input_url]

Basic Usage

# Print all info (default human-readable output)
ffprobe input.mp4

# Hide banner
ffprobe -hide_banner input.mp4

# Show only errors
ffprobe -v error input.mp4

Selectors

Stream Selectors

# Select video streams only
ffprobe -v error -show_streams -select_streams v input.mp4

# Select audio streams only
ffprobe -v error -show_streams -select_streams a input.mp4

# Specific stream by index
ffprobe -v error -select_streams a:1 input.mp4

Format Selector

# Show format info only
ffprobe -v error -show_format input.mp4

Show Entries

Extract specific fields without full output:

# Duration
ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
# Output: 125.678000

# Bitrate
ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=bit_rate -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4

# Video codec
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_name -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
# Output: h264

# Resolution
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=width,height -of csv=p=0 input.mp4
# Output: 1920,1080

# Frame rate
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=r_frame_rate -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
# Output: 30/1

Output Formats

# Default (human-readable)
ffprobe input.mp4

# Compact (key=value)
ffprobe -of compact input.mp4

# CSV
ffprobe -of csv input.mp4

# INI
ffprobe -of ini input.mp4

# JSON (most useful for scripting)
ffprobe -v error -show_format -show_streams -of json input.mp4

# XML
ffprobe -v error -show_format -show_streams -of xml input.mp4

Practical Examples

Get video duration in seconds

ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4

Check if file has audio

ffprobe -v error -select_streams a -show_entries stream=codec_type -of csv=p=0 input.mp4

List all streams

ffprobe -v error -show_streams -of json input.mkv

Find specific codec info

ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_name,profile,level,width,height,pix_fmt -of json input.mp4

Count frames

ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -count_frames -show_entries stream=nb_read_frames -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4