youtube-api

# YouTube API YouTube data access via [TranscriptAPI.com](https://transcriptapi.com) — no Google API quota needed. ## Setup If `$TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY` is not set, help the user create an account (100 free credits, no card): **Step 1 — Register:** Ask user for their email, generate a secure password. ```bash node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js register --email USER_EMAIL --password SECURE_PASS --json ``` → OTP sent to email. Ask user: _"Check your email for a 6-digit verification code."_ ⚠️ **SAVE THE PASSWORD** — you need it again in Step 2! **Step 2 — Verify:** Once user provides the OTP (use SAME password from Step 1): ```bash node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js verify --email USER_EMAIL --password SECURE_PASS --otp CODE --json ``` → Returns `api_key` (starts with `sk_`). **Step 3 — Save:** Store the key (auto-configures agent + shell): ```bash node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js save-key --key API_KEY --json ``` → Ready to use. Agent runtime picks up the key automatically. Manual option: [transcriptapi.com/signup](https://transcriptapi.com/signup) → Dashboard → API Keys. ## Endpoint Reference All endpoints: `https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/...` | Endpoint | Method | Cost | | -------------------------------------- | ------ | -------- | | `/transcript?video_url=ID` | GET | 1 | | `/search?q=QUERY&type=video` | GET | 1 | | `/channel/resolve?input=@handle` | GET | **free** | | `/channel/latest?channel_id=UC_ID` | GET | **free** | | `/channel/videos?channel_id=UC_ID` | GET | 1/page | | `/channel/search?channel_id=UC_ID&q=Q` | GET | 1 | | `/playlist/videos?playlist_id=PL_ID` | GET | 1/page | ## Quick Examples **Search videos:** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/search\ ?q=python+tutorial&type=video&limit=10" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Get transcript:** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/transcript\ ?video_url=dQw4w9WgXcQ&format=text&include_timestamp=true&send_metadata=true" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Resolve channel handle (free):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/resolve?input=@mkbhd" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Latest videos (free):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/latest?channel_id=UC_CHANNEL_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` **Browse channel uploads (paginated):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/videos?channel_id=UC_CHANNEL_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" # Use continuation token from response for next pages ``` **Browse playlist (paginated):** ```bash curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/playlist/videos?playlist_id=PL_PLAYLIST_ID" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY" ``` ## Parameter Validation | Field | Rule | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | `channel_id` | `^UC[a-zA-Z0-9_-]{22}$` (24 chars total) | | `playlist_id` | starts with `PL`, `UU`, `LL`, `FL`, or `OL` | | `q` (search) | 1-200 chars | | `limit` | 1-50 | | `continuation` | non-empty string | ## Why Not Google's API? | | Google YouTube Data API | TranscriptAPI | | ----------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | Quota | 10,000 units/day (100 searches) | Credit-based, no daily cap | | Setup | OAuth + API key + project | Single API key | | Transcripts | Not available | Core feature | | Pricing | $0.0015/unit overage | $5/1000 credits | ## Errors | Code | Meaning | Action | | ---- | ----------------- | ------------------------- | | 401 | Bad API key | Check key | | 402 | No credits | transcriptapi.com/billing | | 404 | Not found | Resource doesn't exist | | 408 | Timeout/retryable | Retry once after 2s | | 422 | Validation error | Check param format | | 429 | Rate limited | Wait, respect Retry-After | Free tier: 100 credits, 300 req/min. Starter ($5/mo): 1,000 credits.