What is the purpose of "part" files ? #24896

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opened 2026-02-21 13:33:27 -05:00 by deekerman · 3 comments
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Originally created by @section83 on GitHub (Jan 12, 2022).

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I can't find a difference in behaviour between having or not having the "--no-part" setting – except that without that setting there are part files left if the download is interrupted. With or without that setting, downloads are resumed.

So, what is the purpose the part files ?

Thanks.

Originally created by @section83 on GitHub (Jan 12, 2022). <!-- ###################################################################### WARNING! IGNORING THE FOLLOWING TEMPLATE WILL RESULT IN ISSUE CLOSED AS INCOMPLETE ###################################################################### --> ## Checklist <!-- Carefully read and work through this check list in order to prevent the most common mistakes and misuse of youtube-dl: - Look through the README (http://yt-dl.org/readme) and FAQ (http://yt-dl.org/faq) for similar questions - Search the bugtracker for similar questions: http://yt-dl.org/search-issues - Finally, put x into all relevant boxes (like this [x]) --> - [X] I'm asking a question - [X] I've looked through the README and FAQ for similar questions - [X] I've searched the bugtracker for similar questions including closed ones ## Question <!-- Ask your question in an arbitrary form. Please make sure it's worded well enough to be understood, see https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl#is-the-description-of-the-issue-itself-sufficient. --> I can't find a difference in behaviour between having or not having the "--no-part" setting – except that without that setting there are part files left if the download is interrupted. With or without that setting, downloads are resumed. So, what is the purpose the part files ? Thanks.
deekerman 2026-02-21 13:33:27 -05:00
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@rautamiekka commented on GitHub (Jan 13, 2022):

I'm surprised someone would ask something like this.

Simple: the file prevents someone using an incomplete file by saving into the temporary one before renaming it on completion.

@rautamiekka commented on GitHub (Jan 13, 2022): I'm surprised someone would ask something like this. Simple: the file prevents someone using an incomplete file by saving into the temporary one before renaming it on completion.
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@ghost commented on GitHub (Jan 13, 2022):

You will see the difference if you start without "--no-part", interrupt, then run with "--no-part" (or vice versa).
Read #48 for the reason of the option.

@ghost commented on GitHub (Jan 13, 2022): You will see the difference if you start without "--no-part", interrupt, then run with "--no-part" (or vice versa). Read #48 for the reason of the option.
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@section83 commented on GitHub (Jan 13, 2022):

OK, thanks. You might guess that I have very little trouble with incomplete downloads. Anyway, just as long as there is no difference in the content of the files.

I plan to add "--no-part" an as option in my applet and need to explain to my users why they might use/not use it. People with high quality internet access might prefer "--no-part".

Cheers.

@section83 commented on GitHub (Jan 13, 2022): OK, thanks. You might guess that I have very little trouble with incomplete downloads. Anyway, just as long as there is no difference in the content of the files. I plan to add "--no-part" an as option in my applet and need to explain to my users why they might use/not use it. People with high quality internet access might prefer "--no-part". Cheers.
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starred/youtube-dl-ytdl-org#24896
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