What the inspector decodes
The inspector parses two manifest types directly from the text you paste - it never fetches the URL, so CORS and mixed-content rules do not apply.
HLS (m3u8) - master vs media playlist
A master playlist lists each variant of the stream via #EXT-X-STREAM-INF plus alternative renditions (audio, subtitles, captions) via #EXT-X-MEDIA. A media playlist lists the actual segments via #EXTINF framed by #EXT-X-TARGETDURATION and ending with #EXT-X-ENDLIST (VOD) or no end tag (live).
| Tag | Where | What it means |
|---|---|---|
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF | Master | Declares one variant - BANDWIDTH, RESOLUTION, CODECS, FRAME-RATE |
#EXT-X-MEDIA | Master | Alternative audio, subtitles, or closed-caption track |
#EXT-X-I-FRAME-STREAM-INF | Master | I-frame-only variant for trick-play |
#EXTINF | Media | Duration of the next segment in seconds |
#EXT-X-TARGETDURATION | Media | Maximum segment duration in the playlist |
#EXT-X-DISCONTINUITY | Media | Codec / encoding boundary before the next segment |
#EXT-X-KEY | Media | Segment encryption parameters - METHOD, KEYFORMAT, URI |
#EXT-X-ENDLIST | Media | VOD playlist terminator (live playlists omit it) |
DASH MPD structure
A DASH MPD is XML: <MPD> → <Period> → <AdaptationSet> → <Representation>. Each Representation has its own bandwidth, codecs, and a SegmentTemplate describing the segment naming scheme. Content protection lives on AdaptationSet or Representation via <ContentProtection> elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read an m3u8 file?
An m3u8 file is a UTF-8 text playlist of #EXT tags. A master playlist lists each variant via EXT-X-STREAM-INF with BANDWIDTH, RESOLUTION, and CODECS attributes. A media playlist lists segments via EXTINF and the segment URI. Pasting either into this tool decodes the tags into a sortable table.
What is EXT-X-STREAM-INF?
Declares a variant inside an HLS master playlist. Required: BANDWIDTH and the URI on the next line. Common attributes: RESOLUTION, CODECS, FRAME-RATE, AUDIO/SUBTITLES/CLOSED-CAPTIONS group IDs, AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH.
How is a DASH MPD different from an HLS master?
A DASH MPD is XML and describes Periods → AdaptationSets → Representations. With CMAF the same fMP4 segments can be referenced from both an HLS master and a DASH MPD.