YT-DL PHP

A simple PHP library for downloading videos from YouTube, Instagram, X, and more. Powered by Cobalt

Powered by Cobalt

This library relies on Cobalt’s free API.

• Cobalt Code: GitHub Repository
• Cobalt Site: Cobalt Tools
• Cobalt API Docs: API Documentation

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Usage
• Methods
• Response Body Variables
• Picker Item Variables
• Supported Services
• License
• Contact

Installation

To install the pira/ytdl library, you need to use Composer. Run the following command:

composer require pira/ytdl

Usage

After installing the library, you can start using it in your PHP project. Here's a basic example:

<?php

use pira\YTDL;

require_once 'vendor/autoload.php';

try {
    $ytdl = new YTDL('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAr6AIvH9VY');
    $ytdl->setQuality('480');
    $response = $ytdl->sendRequest();
    print_r($response);
} catch (Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage();
}

Methods

__construct(string $url)

Initializes the YTDL class with a URL.

• Parameters:
  • $url (string): The URL to be used in requests.

setQuality(string $quality): void

Sets the video quality for downloads.

• Parameters:
  • $quality (string): The desired video quality (e.g., 144, 720, max).
• Throws:
  • Exception if the provided quality is not valid.

setFilenamePattern(string $pattern): void

Sets the filename pattern for downloaded files.

• Parameters:
  • $pattern (string): The desired filename pattern. Available patterns:
    • classic:
      • Video: youtube_dQw4w9WgXcQ_640x360_h264.mp4
      • Audio: youtube_dQw4w9WgXcQ_audio.mp3
    • basic:
      • Video: Video Title (360p, h264).mp4
      • Audio: Audio Title - Audio Author.mp3
    • pretty:
      • Video: Video Title (360p, h264, youtube).mp4
      • Audio: Audio Title - Audio Author (soundcloud).mp3
    • nerdy:
      • Video: Video Title (360p, h264, youtube, dQw4w9WgXcQ).mp4
      • Audio: Audio Title - Audio Author (soundcloud, 1242868615).mp3
• Throws:
  • Exception if the provided pattern is not valid.

setVCodec(string $codec): void

Sets the video codec for downloads.

• Parameters:
  • $codec (string): The desired video codec (e.g., h264, av1, vp9).
• Throws:
  • Exception if the provided codec is not valid.

setAFormat(string $format): void

Sets the audio format for downloads.

• Parameters:
  • $format (string): The desired audio format (e.g., mp3, ogg, wav).
• Throws:
  • Exception if the provided format is not valid.

enableAudioOnly(): void

Enables downloading only audio.

enableTTFullAudio(): void

Enables downloading the original sound from a TikTok video.

enableAudioMuted(): void

Enables muting the audio track in video downloads.

enableDubLang(): void

Enables using the Accept-Language header for YouTube video audio tracks.

enableDisableMetadata(): void

Enables disabling file metadata.

enableTwitterGif(): void

Enables converting Twitter gifs to .gif format.

enableTiktokH265(): void

Enables preferring 1080p h265 videos for TikTok.

setAcceptLanguage(string $language): void

Sets the custom Accept-Language header value for requests.

• Parameters:
  • $language (string): The custom Accept-Language header value.

sendRequest(): array

Sends the configured request to the API and returns the response.

• Returns:

  • An associative array containing the status and data of the response.

• Throws:

  • Exception if there is an error in sending the request.

Response Body Variables

key	type	variables
status	string	error / redirect / stream / success / rate-limit / picker
text	string	various text, mostly used for errors
url	string	direct link to a file or a link to cobalt's live render
pickerType	string	various / images
picker	array	array of picker items
audio	string	direct link to a file or a link to cobalt's live render

Source: Cobalt API Documentation - Response Body Variables

Picker Item Variables

item type: object

key	type	variables	description
type	string	video / photo / gif	used only if pickerType is various
url	string	direct link to a file or a link to cobalt's live render
thumb	string	item thumbnail that's displayed in the picker	used for video and gif types

Source: Cobalt API Documentation - Picker Item Variables

Supported Services

This list is not final and keeps expanding over time.

service	video + audio	only audio	only video	metadata	rich file names
bilibili.com & bilibili.tv	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
dailymotion	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
instagram posts & reels	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
facebook videos	✅	❌	❌	➖	➖
loom	✅	❌	✅	✅	➖
ok video	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
pinterest	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
reddit	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
rutube	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
snapchat stories & spotlights	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
soundcloud	➖	✅	➖	✅	✅
streamable	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
tiktok	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
tumblr	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
twitch clips	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
twitter/x	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
vimeo	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
vine archive	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖
vk videos & clips	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
youtube videos, shorts & music	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

emoji	meaning
✅	supported
➖	impossible/unreasonable
❌	not supported

Source: Cobalt - Supported Services

Additional Notes or Features

service	notes or features
instagram	Supports reels, photos, and videos. Lets you pick what to save from multi-media posts.
facebook	Supports public accessible videos content only.
pinterest	Supports photos, gifs, videos and stories.
reddit	Supports gifs and videos.
snapchat	Supports spotlights and stories. Lets you pick what to save from stories.
rutube	Supports yappy & private links.
soundcloud	Supports private links.
tiktok	Supports videos with or without watermark, images from slideshow without watermark, and full (original) audios.
twitter/x	Lets you pick what to save from multi-media posts. May not be 100% reliable due to current management.
vimeo	Audio downloads are only available for dash.
youtube	Supports videos, music, and shorts. 8K, 4K, HDR, VR, and high FPS videos. Rich metadata & dubs. h264/av1/vp9 codecs.

Source: Cobalt - Additional Notes or Features per Service

If support for a service you want is missing, create an issue (or a pull request 👀) on Cobalt's GitHub repository.

License

This library is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

Contact

For any queries or issues, please contact:

• Name: Hossein Pira
• Email: h3dev.pira@gmail.com
• Instagram: @h3dev.pira
• Telegram: @h3dev

References

• Cobalt Code: GitHub Repository
• Cobalt Site: Cobalt Tools
• Cobalt API Docs: API Documentation