PLS is a computer file format that stores multimedia playlist

Playlist

In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. They can be played in sequential or shuffled order. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers.-In radio:...

s. It is a more expressive format than basic M3U

M3U

M3U is a computer file format that stores multimedia playlists. It is supported by many applications.An M3U file is a plain text file that specifies the locations of one or more media files. Each line carries one specification...

, as it can store (cache

Cache

In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...

) information on the song title and length (this is supported in extended M3U only). With PLS version 2, playlists also include a PLS version declaration.

iTunes

ITunes

iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

, QuickTime Player, Real player, Winamp

Winamp

Winamp is a media player for Windows-based PCs and Android devices, written by Nullsoft, now a subsidiary of AOL. It is proprietary freeware/shareware, multi-format, extensible with plug-ins and skins, and is noted for its graphical sound visualization, playlist, and media library features.Winamp...

, XBMC, XMPlay, VLC media player

VLC media player

VLC media player is a free and open source media player and multimedia framework written by the VideoLAN project.VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It is able to...

, popular GNU/Linux media player Rhythmbox

Rhythmbox

Rhythmbox is an audio player that plays and helps organize digital music. Originally inspired by Apple's iTunes, it is free software, designed to work well under the GNOME Desktop using the GStreamer media framework. However, Rhythmbox functions on desktop environments other than GNOME.-Music...

, and foobar2000

Foobar2000

foobar2000 is a freeware audio player for Windows developed by Peter Pawlowski, a former freelance contractor for Nullsoft. It is known for its highly modular design and extensive SDK which allows third-party developers to do such things as completely replace the interface...

 are able to interpret PLS files. Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic is a compact media player for 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows. The application mimics the look and feel of the old, lightweight Windows Media Player 6.4 but integrates most options and features found in modern media players...

 with the K-Lite

K-Lite Codec Pack

K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video components for Microsoft Windows that enables the operating system and its software to play back various audio and video formats generally not supported by the operating system itself...

 codec installed does work with PLS format but still requires the appropriate MIME

MIME

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions is an Internet standard that extends the format of email to support:* Text in character sets other than ASCII* Non-text attachments* Message bodies with multiple parts...

 or file extension associations

File association

A file association associates a file with an application capable of opening that file. More commonly, a file association associates a class of files with a corresponding application .-Associations and verbs:A single file extension may have several associations for performing various actions, also...

.

Specification

The format is essentially that of an INI file structured as follows:

Header

• [playlist] : This tag indicates that it is a Playlist File

Track Entry

Assuming track entry #X

• FileX : Variable defining location of stream.
• TitleX : Defines track title.
• LengthX : Length in seconds of track. Value of -1 indicates indefinite.

Footer

• NumberOfEntries : This variable indicates the number of tracks
• Version : Playlist version. Currently only a value of 2 is valid.

Example

[playlist]



File1=http://streamexample.com:80

Title1=My Favorite Online Radio

Length1=-1



File2=http://example.com/song.mp3

Title2=Remote MP3

Length2=286



File3=/home/myaccount/album.flac

Title3=Local album

Length3=3487



NumberOfEntries=3



Version=2

External links

• A survey of playlist formats
• Open PLS in WMP