a computer file format that stores multimedia playlists
An M3U file is a plain text file that specifies the locations of one or more media files. The file is saved with the "M3U" or "m3u" filename extension.
Each entry carries one specification. The specification can be any one of the following:
- an absolute local pathname; e.g., C:\My Music\Heavysets.mp3
- a local pathname relative to the M3U file location; e.g. Heavysets.mp3
- a URL.
The M3U file can also include comments, prefaced by the "#" character. In extended M3U, "#" also introduces extended M3U directives.
One common use of the M3U file format is creating a single-entry playlist file pointing to a stream on the Internet. The created file provides easy access to that stream and is often used in downloads from a website, for emailing, and for listening to Internet radio .
