Video URL Finder, from the arqrepostxt project, is a Chrome extension built to locate video stream endpoints for testing and debugging. The extension monitors network requests and surfaces HLS (.m3u8), DASH (.mpd) and MP4 links in real time, letting users copy, validate or export detected URLs. It bundles a live dashboard, persistent collection mode and a URL status checker, making it useful for developers, QA testers and media engineers who need quick, local stream verification.

What the extension is designed to do for technical workflows

Video URL Finder acts as a read-only network observer that targets stream discovery rather than downloading content. It identifies playlist and file endpoints requested by an in-page player so developers and QA can capture exact ingest URLs used during playback. The tool is aimed at technical users working on custom players, pipeline verification, or automated test harnesses that require raw HLS, DASH or MP4 links.

How detection works and what it requires

Detection operates in real time via Chrome's webRequest API, so the extension watches network traffic and flags HLS, DASH, MP4 and TS requests as they occur. It can detect playlists using Content-Type headers even when file extensions are missing. The extension requires host access permissions for sites you want to monitor, which allows it to list stream URLs as pages load without altering requests.

Which UI and workflow tools speed up testing

The extension presents a filtered live dashboard and copy/export actions so testers can quickly move from discovery to verification. A toolbar badge shows the number of detected streams per tab, the dashboard supports one-click copy for single URLs, selected formats, or the entire list, and export saves captured lists as .txt files for integration with test scripts or CI pipelines.

How it handles privacy and persistence during use

All captured data remains local to the browser, following a zero-data-collection model: no information is sent to external servers and the extension does not modify web traffic. A persistent Collection mode stores URLs across tabs and sessions in local storage, and a built-in URL checker reports whether a captured endpoint is alive or dead before it is reused in a pipeline.

Practical, technical tool best suited to developers and testers

Video URL Finder is a practical option for developers and QA who need quick, local discovery of stream endpoints rather than media downloading; non-technical users may find the required host-access permissions intrusive. For faster validation, pair the extension with a local player or command-line tool to exercise captured URLs. In short, the extension fits technical workflows that need reliable, in-browser stream inspection without external data transmission.