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113

answers:

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Hi folks,

I'm wordering how apps such as Video DownloadHelper work.


Any ideas?

+6  A: 

They simply resolve the link to the actual FLV file, and download it.

This is done by copying the video identifier from the URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEeqHj3Nj2c

Which is used to request info about the video:

http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?&video_id=WEeqHj3Nj2c

The video info includes a TOKEN, which you can then you use to make another request:

http://www.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=WEeqHj3Nj2c&t=TOKEN

If all goes well, YouTube will respond with HTTP 303 See Other, including a Location header with a direct link to the FLV file.

Dolph
@Dolph: thanks for this!!! This is great, I suppose I can do the same for most of other sites too?
RadiantHex
Yes, every site has the FLV available *somewhere*. YouTube is likely more difficult than most! Fire up a tool like FireBug to monitor the transaction between your browser and the server to figure out where the FLV's are tucked away.
Dolph
@Dolph: awesome and very informative reply! =D thanks!
RadiantHex