carapace-sh ffmpeg CLI In-Depth Reference
ffmpeg's command-line is a stream-oriented pipeline, not a traditional flag tree. Arguments form a linear sequence of inputs, per-file/per-stream options, and outputs — where options apply to the next file and "flags" are more like transformers bound to a preceding input. This skill provides the reference material needed to write a lexer for ffmpeg CLI arguments.
Data Flow
global_options
→ [input_file_options -i input_url]...
→ [filter_complex_options]?
→ [output_file_options output_url]...
Options are positional: each option applies to the next -i (input) or the next output URL. Global options must come first. Do not mix input and output options — all inputs precede all outputs.
Sub-Resources
Load the reference that matches your task. When in doubt, load multiple references.
| Keywords | Reference |
|---|---|
| stream model, pipeline, demuxer, decoder, filter, encoder, muxer, elementary stream, transcoding, streamcopy, flow, data flow | references/stream-model.md |
| option syntax, flag, dash, double dash, boolean flag, positional option, stream specifier suffix, colon syntax, option argument, quoting, escaping | references/option-syntax.md |
| option scope, global, per-file, per-stream, input-only, output-only, option application order, positional | references/option-scopes.md |
| stream specifier, stream_spec, stream type, :v, :a, :s, :d, :t, program, group, metadata, disposition, usable | references/stream-specifier.md |
| filter graph, filtergraph, simple filter, complex filter, -vf, -af, -filter_complex, link label, pad, filter chain, filter option, lavfi | references/filtergraph.md |
| -map, stream mapping, negative map, optional map, view specifier, linklabel mapping, loopback decoder | references/mapping.md |
| value types, time duration, video size, video rate, ratio, pixel format, sample format, channel layout, color, codec, format, boolean, integer, float, string, expression | references/value-types.md |
| ffplay, player, display, fullscreen, show mode, sync, vulkan renderer, playback control | references/ffplay.md |
| ffprobe, probe, inspector, show streams, show format, output format, print format, select streams, read intervals, sections | references/ffprobe.md |
Quick Guide
- How does the ffmpeg pipeline work end-to-end? → references/stream-model.md
- How do I parse an option name and its stream specifier suffix? → references/option-syntax.md and references/stream-specifier.md
- Which options apply to which scope (global, per-file, per-stream)? → references/option-scopes.md
- How do I lex a stream specifier like
:a:1or:m:language:eng? → references/stream-specifier.md - How do I parse a filter graph string? → references/filtergraph.md
- How does
-mapselect streams and what are its sub-formats? → references/mapping.md - What value types does ffmpeg use for option arguments? → references/value-types.md
- How does quoting/escaping work in ffmpeg option values? → references/option-syntax.md
- How do complex filtergraphs connect inputs and outputs? → references/filtergraph.md and references/mapping.md
- How does ffplay's CLI model differ from ffmpeg? → references/ffplay.md
- How does ffprobe's CLI model differ from ffmpeg? → references/ffprobe.md
Cross-Project References
- For shell quoting rules (bash/zsh/fish escaping that wraps ffmpeg arguments), see the bash, zsh, or fish skills.
- For carapace completion framework internals, see the carapace skill.