Data Structure
Networking
RDBMS
Operating System
Java
MS Excel
iOS
HTML
CSS
Android
Python
C Programming
C++
C#
MongoDB
MySQL
Javascript
PHP
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Mathematics
English
Economics
Psychology
Social Studies
Fashion Studies
Legal Studies
- Selected Reading
- UPSC IAS Exams Notes
- Developer's Best Practices
- Questions and Answers
- Effective Resume Writing
- HR Interview Questions
- Computer Glossary
- Who is Who
Difference Between WPL and M3U
WPL and M3U are both playlist file formats used to organised multimedia files. WPL is a proprietary format that is primarily used with Windows Media Player, whereas M3U is an open standard format that is compatible with a wide range of media players and software applications.
Read this article to find out more about WPL and M3U and how they are different from each other.
What is WPL?
WPL is a proprietary playlist format developed by Microsoft for use with its Windows Media Player software. It is commonly used on Windows systems to manage playlists of audio and video files. WPL files are XML documents that can be updated and customized with a text editor.
WPL files are XML documents that contain a list of multimedia files, such as audio and video, as well as file paths and metadata. They also carry information about the file order and any other relevant playlist settings, such as repeat and shuffle options.
A WPL file's XML structure contains metadata about each media file in the playlist, such as the file name, location, duration, and other details. WPL files may additionally contain additional data such as album art, lyrics, and other media file information.
WPL files can be created manually by users or automatically by Windows Media Player when a playlist is created within the software. They may be changed and customised with a text editor, allowing users to change the metadata for each media file or add new files to the playlist.
WPL files have been created mainly to be used with Windows Media Player; hence, they are incompatible with other media player software or platforms. However, certain third-party media player software may handle WPL files, or they can be converted to other file formats such as M3U for greater compatibility.
What is M3U?
M3U is a playlist file format for managing and organising multimedia files like music and videos. M3U is an open standard format that may be used with a variety of media players and software applications.
M3U files are basic text files that include a list of multimedia file folder locations, or URLs. Each file path or URL is normally separated by a new line, and the list can contain files in a variety of codecs, including MP3, AAC, and FLAC. M3U files can additionally carry metadata for each file, such as the name of the artist and the title of the song.
M3U files can be manually created by adding file locations or URLs into a text editor and saving the file with the.m3u file extension. They can also be generated automatically by software applications based on criteria like genre, artist, or album.
M3U files are commonly used to create Internet radio playlists. By including a URL for the audio stream in the file, M3U files can be used to broadcast audio content over the internet.
Difference between WPL and M3U
The following table highlights the major differences between WPL and M3U −
Characteristics |
WPL |
M3U |
|---|---|---|
File format |
Proprietary |
Open Standard |
Developed by |
Microsoft |
Various vendors |
Compatible software |
Windows Media Player |
Various media players and software applications |
File structure |
XML document |
Simple text file |
File extensions |
.wpl |
.m3u |
Usage |
It is designed for use with Windows Media Player. |
It is designed for use with various media players and software applications. |
Editing |
It can be edited and customized using a text editor or Windows Media Player. |
It can be edited and customized using a text editor or software applications. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the main difference between WPL and M3U playlist file formats lies in their structure, compatibility, and intended usage. WPL is a Microsoft- created proprietary format designed for use with its Windows Media Player software, whereas M3U is an open standard playlist format that can be used with a wide range of media players and other applications.
WPL files are XML documents, whereas M3U files are basic text files that include a list of multimedia file paths, or URLs. In addition, whereas WPL files are mainly designed to be used with Windows Media Player, M3U files are compatible with a wide range of media players on various operating systems.
806 Views
