# Special protocol

The "Special Protocol" is Kodi's solution to platform dependent directories. Common directory names are assigned a `special://[name]` path which is passed around inside Kodi and then translated to the platform specific path before the operating system sees it.

Available Paths
Below is a list of commonly used protocols. Further protocols for specific and limited uses can be found on GitHub.


| Path<br>                         | Description<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| library://music/<br>             | This path points to the Music Library folders and to the File Sources<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| library://video/<br>             | This path points to the Video Library folders and to the File Sources<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| &#160; * * * * *<br>             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| special://cdrips<br>             | This path contains the tracks from CDs you rip with Kodi. You will be asked to specify this directory the first time you rip a CD.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| special://database<br>           | This path contains the database files Kodi uses to store library info. Normally special://masterprofile/Database.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| special://home<br>               | Leads to the Kodi_data_folder.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| special://home/addons<br>        | Directory where addons are installed after installation. Does not include default addons installed with Kodi.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| special://home/media<br>         | Leads to the \media\ folder in the Kodi_data_folder.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| special://home/media/Fonts<br>   | Directory where user defined fonts are located.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| special://logpath<br>            | This path points to the path where the log file is saved.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| special://masterprofile<br>      | Kodi's main configuration directory. Normally located at special://home/userdata, this directory contains global settings and sources, as well as any Kodi profile directories. Normally special://home/userdata<br>                                                                                                              |
| special://musicartistsinfo<br>   | This path points to the Artist_information_folder if one has been set.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| special://musicplaylists<br>     | This path contains saved music playlists. Normally special://profile/playlists/music.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| special://profile/playlists<br>  | Parent folder of special://videoplaylists and special://musicplaylists and will allow access to the Mixed playlist folder<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| special://profile/addon_data<br> | This path leads to the addon_data folder located in the Userdata folder. It contains user modified settings for installed add-ons.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| special://profile<br>            | Kodi's currently active profile directory. This directory points at special://masterprofile/profile_name (or special://masterprofile if no profile is in use) and contains per profile overrides for settings and sources.<br>                                                                                                    |
| special://recordings<br>         | This path contains saved PVR recordings.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| special://screenshots<br>        | This path contains Kodi screen shots. You will be asked to specify this directory the first time you take a screen shot.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| special://skin<br>               | This path points to the currently active skin's root directory.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| special://subtitles<br>          | User defined custom subtitle path. Set it in Video Settings.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| special://temp<br>               | Kodi's temporary directory. This path is used to cache various data during normal usage. Unless you need the log, nothing in this directory is detrimental to Kodi's operation. Normally special://home/temp<br>                                                                                                                  |
| special://temp/fonts<br>         | A temporary font path where MKV fonts are extracted and temporarily stored.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| special://thumbnails<br>         | This path contains cached thumbnails. Normally special://masterprofile/Thumbnails<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| special://userdata<br>           | Alias from special://masterprofile.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| special://videoplaylists<br>     | This path contains saved video playlists. Normally special://profile/playlists/video.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| special://xbmc<br>               | Kodi's installation root directory. This path is read-only contains the Kodi binary, support libraries and default configuration files, skins, scripts and plugins. Users should not modify files or install addons in this directory.<br>Note: The special://xbmc/ path is still valid . special://kodi/ does not exist yet.<br> |
| special://xbmc/media/Fonts<br>   | Directory where Kodi bundled fonts files are located.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| special://xbmc/system<br>        | This path points to the System folder in Kodi's installation root directory.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| special://xbmcbinaddons<br>      | This path points to the addon folder in Kodi's installation root directory.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| &#160; * * * * *<br>             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| sources://music<br>              | This path points to the music source folders.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| sources://video<br>              | This path points to the video source folders.<br>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |