A podcatcher, or podcast client, is a computer program used to download various media via an RSS or XML feed.
While podcatchers are most known for downloading podcasts (generally audio files in MP3 format), many are also capable of downloading video, newsfeeds, text, and pictures. Some podcatchers can also automate the transfer of received audio files to a portable media player. Although many include a directory of high-profile podcasts, they generally allow users to manually subscribe directly to a feed by providing the URL.
The core concepts had been developing since 2000, the first commercial podcast client software was developed in 2001, and podcasting became popular in 2004.
When Apple added podcatching to its iTunes software in June 2005, it almost immediately became the most popular client.
The following is a list of noteworthy podcatchers or software with podcatching capability.