mpd

Music Player Daemon runs as a server‑side application that plays audio files of many formats through the host’s sound device. It maintains a database of the available music, allowing fast searching and retrieval of metadata. Control, information queries, and playlist operations are performed over a network protocol, enabling remote management of playback and library organization.

The daemon is self‑hostable and runs without a subscription, distributed under the GPL‑2.0 license. It is stable and has a mature ecosystem of client programs and libraries that implement the protocol, so users can choose from a variety of front‑ends on different platforms. Documentation, a manual, and community support channels such as a forum, IRC, and bug tracker are provided for both end users and developers.

Typical users include individuals or groups that want a central music server for home audio systems, multi‑room setups, or embedded devices, as well as developers building custom music applications that interact with the daemon via its defined protocol.