YouTube

Overview

The YouTube Data API v3 provides videos, channels, playlists, search, comments, and analytics from YouTube. Read endpoints work with a free API key; user-scoped actions (uploads, playlists, likes) need OAuth. The standard backend for video apps and content dashboards.

Note (verified 2026-08): an invalid API key returns HTTP 400 — you need a key from Google Cloud Console (enable “YouTube Data API v3”).

Quick Start

Video details (replace YOUR_KEY):

curl "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics&id=dQw4w9WgXcQ&key=YOUR_KEY"

Search:

curl "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&q=cats&maxResults=5&key=YOUR_KEY"

Channel info:

curl "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/channels?part=statistics&forUsername=NASA&key=YOUR_KEY"

Popular videos:

curl "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet&chart=mostPopular&regionCode=US&key=YOUR_KEY"

Authentication

• API key (free, Google Cloud Console): read endpoints — search, videos, channels, comments, playlists.
• OAuth: user-scoped actions (uploads, like/unlike, subscriptions) — the listing’s OAuth flag refers to this.

Rate Limits & Notes

• Free quota: 10,000 units/day (a typical video detail call = 1 unit; search = 100 units) — budget carefully.
• part= is required and selects the fields returned (snippet, statistics, contentDetails…).
• regionCode and videoCategoryId filter popular feeds.
• The API is served from Google Cloud — a key is mandatory (400 without a valid one).

FAQ

Is YouTube API free? Yes — free key with a 10,000 units/day quota.

Do I need OAuth? Only for user actions — reads work with a simple API key.

How do I get a key? Google Cloud Console → enable YouTube Data API v3 → create an API key.