PLS (file format)

Playlist

Filename extension	.pls
Internet media type	audio/x-scpls
Type of format	Playlist

PLS is a computer file format that stores multimedia playlists, originally used by SHOUTcast and Icecast for streaming media over the Internet. PLS is a more expressive playlist format than basic M3U, as it can store (cache) 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.

File format

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 (streaming).

Footer

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

Examples

Example of a radio station streaming audio PLS file, complete

[playlist]
NumberOfEntries=1

File1=http://stream2.streamq.net:8020/

Software

See also the categories Media players and Tag editors

iTunes, VLC media player, Totem, RealPlayer, Winamp, Yahoo! Music Jukebox, MediaMonkey, Windows Media Player, AIMP, XBMC, XMPlay, Rhythmbox, foobar2000, and more than 30 others are able to interpret (open) PLS files. Media Player Classic with the K-Lite codec installed does work with PLS format but still requires the appropriate MIME or file extension associations.

See also

Other playlist file formats

• ASX - Windows media
• M3U - The most common playlist format
• XSPF - Xiph.Org Foundation
• WPL - Windows Media Player

External links

• Unofficial PLS file specification, 2001, winamp.com
• A survey of playlist formats, 2003
• PLSv2 play list specification, 2010/2012
• Open PLS in WMP