What is a magnet link?

A magnet link is a type of hyperlink that allows you to download files through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks like BitTorrent without needing to download a .torrent file first. Instead of containing the file data itself, a magnet link contains metadata that identifies the file through a cryptographic hash called an "info hash." When you click a magnet link, your BitTorrent client uses this information to find other peers who have the file and begin downloading directly.

Tool description

This tool validates magnet links and extracts their key components. It checks whether a magnet URI follows the proper format and parses out important information like the info hash (unique file identifier), display name (suggested filename), and tracker URLs (servers that help coordinate file sharing). This is useful for verifying magnet links before using them or understanding what information they contain.

Features

  • Format validation: Verifies that the magnet link follows the correct URI structure
  • Info hash extraction: Displays the unique cryptographic hash that identifies the file
  • Display name parsing: Shows the suggested filename from the magnet link
  • Tracker list: Extracts and displays all tracker URLs included in the link
  • Real-time validation: Instant feedback as you paste or type magnet links

Use cases

  1. Verify magnet links before downloading: Check that a magnet link is properly formatted before opening it in a BitTorrent client
  2. Extract file information: Get the info hash and filename without opening a torrent client
  3. Debug torrent issues: Identify problems with malformed magnet links that won't work
  4. Compare magnet links: Extract and compare info hashes to verify if different magnet links point to the same file
  5. Educational purposes: Learn about the structure and components of magnet links