How to Call the YouTube Search API
Simple REST API endpoint. Just make a GET request with your API key and get structured data back.
GETCode Examples
cURL
curl -X GET 'https://api.parseium.com/v1/youtube-search?query=search+term+here&api_key=YOUR_API_KEY'TypeScript
const response = await fetch(`https://api.parseium.com/v1/youtube-search?query=search+term+here&api_key=${process.env.PARSEIUM_API_KEY}`, {
method: 'GET',
});
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);Python
import requests
import os
api_key = os.environ['PARSEIUM_API_KEY']
response = requests.get(
f'https://api.parseium.com/v1/youtube-search?query=search+term+here&api_key={api_key}'
)
data = response.json()
print(data)Query Parameters
Pass parameters in the URL query string:
query=search+term+hereResponse Schema
The API returns structured JSON data with the following schema:
{
"videos": [
{
"type": {
"type": "string"
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"url": {
"type": "string"
},
"title": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": {
"type": "string"
},
"thumbnail": {
"type": "string"
},
"view_count_text": {
"type": "string"
},
"view_count_int": {
"type": "number"
},
"published_time_text": {
"type": "string"
},
"published_time": {
"type": "string"
},
"length_text": {
"type": "string"
},
"length_seconds": {
"type": "number"
},
"channel_id": {
"type": "string"
},
"channel_name": {
"type": "string"
},
"channel_url": {
"type": "string"
},
"badges": [
{
"type": "string"
}
]
}
],
"shorts": [
{
"type": {
"type": "string"
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"url": {
"type": "string"
},
"title": {
"type": "string"
},
"thumbnail": {
"type": "string"
},
"view_count_text": {
"type": "string"
},
"view_count_int": {
"type": "number"
}
}
],
"channels": [
{
"type": {
"type": "string"
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"url": {
"type": "string"
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"handle": {
"type": "string"
},
"thumbnail": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": {
"type": "string"
},
"subscriber_count": {
"type": "string"
},
"video_count": {
"type": "string"
}
}
],
"continuation_token": {
"type": "string"
},
"has_more": {
"type": "boolean"
}
}Need more details? Check out our full API documentation for authentication, error handling, rate limits, and advanced options.
Use Cases for YouTube Search
See how developers use this API in production applications.
Content Discovery
Find relevant videos, Shorts, and channels for research, inspiration, or competitive analysis.
Trend Monitoring
Track trending topics and popular content by searching for keywords and analyzing top results.
Research & Analysis
Gather comprehensive data on search results for content strategy, SEO research, or market analysis.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Every API call to YouTube Search costs 1 credit
Choose a plan based on your monthly usage. All plans include access to all APIs.
150,000 API calls/mo
$0.33 per 1K requests
- 150,000 credits/month
- 3 Concurrent Requests
- Email support
- Priority processing
700,000 API calls/mo
$0.14 per 1K requests
- 700,000 credits/month
- 10 Concurrent Requests
- Priority support
- Advanced features
3,000,000 API calls/mo
$0.10 per 1K requests
- 3M credits/month
- 30 Concurrent Requests
- Dedicated support
- Custom integrations
Need more? Check out our for enterprise options and custom plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the YouTube Search API.
How do I search YouTube?
Use the `query` parameter with your search term (e.g., `query=web+development`). URL-encode spaces as `+` or `%20`. For subsequent pages, use the `continuation` token instead of the query parameter.
What types of results are returned?
Results are organized into three categories: `videos` (regular YouTube videos with full metadata), `shorts` (YouTube Shorts with basic info), and `channels` (matching channels with subscriber counts). Each result type has a `type` field for identification.
How does pagination work?
First request uses `query` parameter. Response includes `continuation_token` if more results exist. Pass this token as `continuation` parameter (without the query) to fetch additional pages. The `has_more` field indicates if more results are available.
What video data is included?
Videos include ID, URL, title, description, thumbnail, view counts (text and numeric), publish dates (relative and ISO 8601), duration (text and seconds), channel info (ID, name, URL), and badges (e.g., "LIVE", "PREMIERE").
Can I test the API risk-free?
Yes! When you sign up you get 1,000 free credits — no credit card required. Try the API with real requests before committing.
What if I need help integrating?
We offer documentation, code examples in multiple languages, and email support. Most questions are answered within 24 hours.
How long does integration take?
Minutes. It's a simple REST API — make an HTTP request, get JSON back. No SDKs to install, no complex auth flows.
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