# YouTube Video Information API

> Returns detailed video information and caption tracks for a specified YouTube video ID. Supports optional parameters to format output data and set language preferences.

Source: https://www.sandbase.ai/apis/youtube/web-v2/video-info
API reference: https://www.sandbase.ai/apis/youtube/web-v2/video-info/docs

## Facts

- Provider: YouTube
- Type: Data API
- Endpoint: `POST https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/youtube/web-v2/video-info`
- Price: $0.0015 per call
- Free allowance: 100 calls per organization per UTC day, shared across eligible APIs
- Capabilities: api, youtube
- Billing: pay per use from one SandBase balance; no provider account or subscription needed

## Call it

`POST https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/youtube/web-v2/video-info` with `Authorization: Bearer $SANDBASE_API_KEY` and the parameters as a JSON body.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Allowed values |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `video_id` | string | yes |  |
| `language_code` | string | no |  |
| `need_format` | boolean | no |  |

## FAQ

### How do I use the YouTube Video Information API?

Send a POST request to https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/youtube/web-v2/video-info with your SandBase API key in the Authorization header (Bearer) and the parameters as a JSON body. You can also try it in the Playground on this page without writing code.

### How much does the YouTube Video Information API cost?

$0.0015 per call. Every organization gets 100 free calls per UTC day, shared across eligible SandBase APIs including this one; after that each call is billed at this price from your SandBase balance. There is no subscription.

### What parameters does the YouTube Video Information API accept?

Required: video_id (string). Optional: language_code (string) and need_format (boolean). The Parameters table and the Playground on this page list every field.

### What does the YouTube Video Information API return?

A JSON response returned in the same HTTP request (synchronous). The README on this page includes a sample response.

### Do I need a YouTube developer account or API key?

No. YouTube Video Information runs through SandBase, so one SandBase API key covers this endpoint and every other API and model in the catalog. You do not need to apply for YouTube API access separately.

## README

### YouTube Video Information API

Retrieve video information and caption URLs for a specific video using `video_id`. You can optionally format the response with `need_format` and select language preferences with `language_code`.

#### Use cases

- Retrieve caption track URLs for automated subtitle extraction.
- Inspect YouTube video metadata for media workflows.
- Filter video metadata by language preference.

#### Request

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/youtube/web-v2/video-info" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SANDBASE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"video_id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ"}'
```

#### Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `video_id` | string | Yes | Purpose: Video ID |
| `need_format` | boolean | No | Whether to clean and format the data |
| `language_code` | string | No | Purpose: Set language preference |

#### Example response

Real response for the request above, trimmed to the main fields. User names and long IDs are masked.

```json
{
  "captions": [
    {
      "base_url": "https://www.youtube.com/api/timedtext?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ&ei=quvEapT4C4O0kucP77OG0Qw&c…",
      "language_name": "德语（德国）"
    }
  ]
}
```

#### Notes

- Set `need_format` to true to return cleaned and formatted data.
- Use `language_code` to specify a preferred language for returned captions.

#### Related APIs

- [YouTube Channel Community Posts](/model/youtube/web-v2/channel-community-posts): Returns community posts from a specific YouTube channel, including text content, polls, votes, and comment counts.
- [YouTube Channel Description](/model/youtube/web-v2/channel-description): Returns YouTube channel details including subscriber counts, video totals, view counts, joined date, and social links.
- [YouTube Channel ID from URL](/model/youtube/web-v2/channel-id): Resolves a YouTube channel URL to its canonical channel ID.