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.

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js register --email USER_EMAIL

→ OTP sent to email. Ask user: _"Check your email for a 6-digit verification code."_

Step 2 — Verify: Once user provides the OTP:

node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js verify --token TOKEN_FROM_STEP_1 --otp CODE

> API key saved to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. See File Writes below for details. Existing file is backed up before modification.

Manual option: [transcriptapi.com/signup](https://transcriptapi.com/signup) → Dashboard → API Keys.

File Writes

The verify and save-key commands save the API key to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (sets skills.entries.transcriptapi.apiKey and enabled: true). Existing file is backed up to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.bak before modification.

To use the API key in terminal/CLI outside the agent, add to your shell profile manually:

export TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY=<your-key>

API Reference

Full OpenAPI spec: [transcriptapi.com/openapi.json](https://transcriptapi.com/openapi.json) — consult this for the latest parameters and schemas.

Endpoint Reference

All endpoints: https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/...

Channel endpoints accept channel — an @handle, channel URL, or UC... ID. Playlist endpoints accept playlist — a playlist URL or ID.

| 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=@handle | GET | free |

| /channel/videos?channel=@handle | GET | 1/page |

| /channel/search?channel=@handle&q=Q | GET | 1 |

| /playlist/videos?playlist=PL_ID | GET | 1/page |

Quick Examples

Search videos:

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/search\
?q=python+tutorial&type=video&limit=10" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Get transcript:

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):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/resolve?input=@TED" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Latest videos (free):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/latest?channel=@TED" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Browse channel uploads (paginated):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/channel/videos?channel=@NASA" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"
Use continuation token from response for next pages

Browse playlist (paginated):

curl -s "https://transcriptapi.com/api/v2/youtube/playlist/videos?playlist=PL_PLAYLIST_ID" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"

Parameter Validation

| Field | Rule |

| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |

| channel | @handle, channel URL, or UC... ID |

| playlist | Playlist URL or ID (PL/UU/LL/FL/OL prefix) |

| 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.