Docs · Search YouTube

Search YouTube

Search YouTube by keyword for videos, Shorts, channels and playlists, with date, length and type filters.

1 credit per callFresh within 15 minutesMCP tool: youtube_search

GEThttps://api.lurkapi.com/v1/youtube/search

When to use this

Use it for trend, topic and competitor research: what YouTube's search page shows for a keyword, split into videos, shorts, channels, playlists and lives (streaming now). About 20 results per page. Narrow it with type, uploadDate, duration (videos only) and sortBy=popular.

Video results carry views as YouTube shows them, a description snippet and the channel. Counts may be rounded; video details returns exact views. Shorts carry title and views only; pass a Short's url to the video endpoint for the rest.

Pagination. Pass the response's continuationToken back as continuationToken (with the same query) for the next page; it's null on the last page.

Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

Parameter	Description
`query` stringrequired	Keywords, e.g. `running shoes`. YouTube's operators work, e.g. `intitle:"air max"`. Example `running shoes`
`type` stringoptional	What to search for. `all` mixes them like youtube.com. One of `allvideosshortschannelsplaylists` Default `all`
`uploadDate` stringoptional	Only results uploaded in this window. One of `anytodaythis_weekthis_monththis_year` Default `any`
`duration` stringoptional	Video length. Doesn't apply to Shorts. One of `anyunder_3_minbetween_3_and_20_minover_20_min` Default `any`
`sortBy` stringoptional	`relevance` (YouTube's default) or `popular` (most viewed first). One of `relevancepopular` Default `relevance`
`continuationToken` stringoptional	The `continuationToken` from the previous response, for the next page.

Example request

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your key, or set LURKAPI_KEY for the code. Get a free key.

curlJavaScriptPython

JavaScript · reads your key from LURKAPI_KEY

const params = new URLSearchParams({
  query: "running shoes",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/youtube/search?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_KEY },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
console.log(data.videos);

Python · reads your key from LURKAPI_KEY

import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/youtube/search",
    params={
        "query": "running shoes",
    },
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["LURKAPI_KEY"]},
    timeout=60,
)
data = res.json()
if not data["success"]:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{data['code']}: {data['error']}")
print(data["videos"])

Example response

A real response from this endpoint, captured from the live API and trimmed to a couple of items. Strings over 96 characters (mostly signed media URLs) are cut short and end in ….

Show the example response (3 KB)

{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 999992,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "videos": [
    {
      "type": "video",
      "id": "z5mWgBMOFJk",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5mWgBMOFJk",
      "title": "My Top 3 Running Shoes | Marathon Prep Training",
      "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5mWgBMOFJk/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4q…",
      "viewCountText": "682,786 views",
      "viewCountInt": 682786,
      "publishedTimeText": "6 years ago",
      "publishedTime": "2020-10-01T14:32:05.335Z",
      "lengthText": "17:18",
      "lengthSeconds": 1038,
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subNickBare Follow Nick Bare: Facebook: http://…",
      "channel": {
        "id": "UCbVEx9qG_hLrb6FrWQJz_Tg",
        "title": "Nick Bare",
        "handle": "nickbarefitness",
        "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@nickbarefitness",
        "thumbnail": "https://yt3.ggpht.com/ytc/AIdro_mVx6fQ8UNrMx2sjhQ5JwJyQTCfSXAoznqRdRSZLo…"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "video",
      "id": "GDL5GVlpuko",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDL5GVlpuko",
      "title": "My Complete Guide To Running Shoes! (Everything You Need To Know)",
      "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GDL5GVlpuko/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4q…",
      "viewCountText": "282,242 views",
      "viewCountInt": 282242,
      "publishedTimeText": "10 months ago",
      "publishedTime": "2025-12-04T14:32:05.335Z",
      "lengthText": "20:25",
      "lengthSeconds": 1225,
      "badges": [
        "1 product",
        "4K"
      ],
      "description": "If you enjoyed the video, please like, comment and subscribe! Thank you …",
      "channel": {
        "id": "UCZPqG0yh_xPm2AyLjffbDvw",
        "title": "Ben Parkes",
        "handle": "BenParkes",
        "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@BenParkes",
        "thumbnail": "https://yt3.ggpht.com/ytc/AIdro_mDy4ZoQqcj7DiO_-1z6j2Y6Nu_PvFESGAsJagEM5…"
      }
    }
  ],
  "shorts": [
    {
      "type": "short",
      "id": "SVyIXZQABS8",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SVyIXZQABS8",
      "title": "Which shoes to get for your Hyrox training? Boldfit Running Shoes",
      "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SVyIXZQABS8/oar2.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEgCJUDEOAESFWQAgHy…",
      "viewCountText": "44 views",
      "viewCountInt": 44
    },
    {
      "type": "short",
      "id": "rKuu1bK6qQY",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rKuu1bK6qQY",
      "title": "Best Running Shoes for Long Runs 🏃",
      "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rKuu1bK6qQY/oar2.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEgCJUDEOAESFWQAgHy…",
      "viewCountText": "7M views",
      "viewCountInt": 7000000
    }
  ],
  "channels": [],
  "playlists": [],
  "lives": [],
  "continuationToken": "EugBEg1ydW5uaW5nIHNob2VzGtYBU0JTQ0FRdDZOVzFYWjBKTlQwWkthNElCQzBkRVREVkhW…"
}

Response fields

Every field of a successful response. [] marks a list: a[].b is the b of each item in a. nullable fields can be null; optional fields can be missing.

Show all 77 fields

Field	Type	Description
success	true	Always true here; errors have `success: false`.
credits_remaining	number	Your balance after this call. On anonymous playground calls: free tries left today.
credits_charged	number	Credits this call cost; 0 on free endpoints. On anonymous playground calls: tries used (1).
videos	object[]	Videos, in result order.
videos[].type	"video"	Always `video`.
videos[].id	string	Video id, e.g. `v9QtM6qnG50`.
videos[].url	string	Watch link. Pass it to the video endpoint for likes, comments, the full description and exact views.
videos[].title	string	Video title.
videos[].thumbnail	stringnullable	Largest thumbnail URL.
videos[].viewCountText	stringnullable	Views as YouTube shows them, e.g. "82M views", or "1,204 watching" while live.
videos[].viewCountInt	numbernullable	viewCountText as a number, rounded whenever YouTube abbreviates it (82M views → 82000000). Use video details for exact views.
videos[].publishedTimeText	stringnullable	When it went up, as YouTube shows it, e.g. "10 days ago". null for live and upcoming videos.
videos[].publishedTime	stringnullable	publishedTimeText as an estimated ISO 8601 time, counted back from when we fetched the page. Only as precise as the text: "1 year ago" means sometime that year.
videos[].lengthText	stringnullable	Length as shown, e.g. "19:03". null for live and upcoming videos.
videos[].lengthSeconds	numbernullable	Length in seconds.
videos[].badges	string[]	Labels YouTube shows on the result, e.g. "4K", "CC", "New" or "LIVE". Often empty.
videos[].description	stringnullable	The description snippet shown under the result, usually its first line or two.
videos[].channel	objectnullable	The channel behind it.
videos[].channel.id	stringnullable	Channel id, `UC…`.
videos[].channel.title	stringnullable	Channel name.
videos[].channel.handle	stringnullable	Handle without the @, e.g. `BenParkes`; null if YouTube shows none.
videos[].channel.url	stringnullable	Channel page, e.g. `https://www.youtube.com/@BenParkes`.
videos[].channel.thumbnail	stringnullable	Channel picture URL; null when the result doesn't show one.
shorts	object[]	Shorts, in result order.
shorts[].type	"short"	Always `short`.
shorts[].id	string	The Short's video id.
shorts[].url	string	`https://www.youtube.com/shorts/<id>`. Pass it to the video endpoint for likes, comments, date and length.
shorts[].title	string	The Short's title.
shorts[].thumbnail	stringnullable	Largest (vertical) thumbnail URL.
shorts[].viewCountText	stringnullable	Views as YouTube shows them, e.g. "22M views".
shorts[].viewCountInt	numbernullable	viewCountText as a number, rounded as shown (22M views → 22000000).
channels	object[]	Channels, in result order.
channels[].type	"channel"	Always `channel`.
channels[].id	string	Channel id, `UC…`. Pass it to channel details for the full stats.
channels[].url	string	Channel page.
channels[].title	string	Channel name.
channels[].handle	stringnullable	Handle without the @; null if YouTube shows none.
channels[].thumbnail	stringnullable	Channel picture URL.
channels[].description	stringnullable	The description snippet shown in the result.
channels[].subscriberCountText	stringnullable	Subscribers as YouTube shows them, e.g. "128K subscribers".
channels[].subscriberCount	numbernullable	subscriberCountText as a number, rounded as shown.
channels[].isVerified	boolean	Has YouTube's verified or official artist badge.
playlists	object[]	Playlists and mixes, in result order.
playlists[].type	"playlist"	Always `playlist`.
playlists[].id	string	Playlist id, e.g. `PLB50X6wE7gSWNQJElg3NX4AH42QoouHOk` (mixes start with `RD`).
playlists[].url	string	Playlist page, `https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=<id>`.
playlists[].title	string	Playlist title.
playlists[].thumbnail	stringnullable	Cover thumbnail URL (its first video).
playlists[].videoCountText	stringnullable	Size as YouTube shows it, e.g. "30 videos".
playlists[].videoCount	numbernullable	videoCountText as a number.
playlists[].channel	objectnullable	The channel behind it.
playlists[].channel.id	stringnullable	Channel id, `UC…`.
playlists[].channel.title	stringnullable	Channel name.
playlists[].channel.handle	stringnullable	Handle without the @, e.g. `BenParkes`; null if YouTube shows none.
playlists[].channel.url	stringnullable	Channel page, e.g. `https://www.youtube.com/@BenParkes`.
playlists[].channel.thumbnail	stringnullable	Channel picture URL; null when the result doesn't show one.
lives	object[]	Streams that are live right now.
lives[].type	"video"	Always `video`.
lives[].id	string	Video id, e.g. `v9QtM6qnG50`.
lives[].url	string	Watch link. Pass it to the video endpoint for likes, comments, the full description and exact views.
lives[].title	string	Video title.
lives[].thumbnail	stringnullable	Largest thumbnail URL.
lives[].viewCountText	stringnullable	Views as YouTube shows them, e.g. "82M views", or "1,204 watching" while live.
lives[].viewCountInt	numbernullable	viewCountText as a number, rounded whenever YouTube abbreviates it (82M views → 82000000). Use video details for exact views.
lives[].publishedTimeText	stringnullable	When it went up, as YouTube shows it, e.g. "10 days ago". null for live and upcoming videos.
lives[].publishedTime	stringnullable	publishedTimeText as an estimated ISO 8601 time, counted back from when we fetched the page. Only as precise as the text: "1 year ago" means sometime that year.
lives[].lengthText	stringnullable	Length as shown, e.g. "19:03". null for live and upcoming videos.
lives[].lengthSeconds	numbernullable	Length in seconds.
lives[].badges	string[]	Labels YouTube shows on the result, e.g. "4K", "CC", "New" or "LIVE". Often empty.
lives[].description	stringnullable	The description snippet shown under the result, usually its first line or two.
lives[].channel	objectnullable	The channel behind it.
lives[].channel.id	stringnullable	Channel id, `UC…`.
lives[].channel.title	stringnullable	Channel name.
lives[].channel.handle	stringnullable	Handle without the @, e.g. `BenParkes`; null if YouTube shows none.
lives[].channel.url	stringnullable	Channel page, e.g. `https://www.youtube.com/@BenParkes`.
lives[].channel.thumbnail	stringnullable	Channel picture URL; null when the result doesn't show one.
continuationToken	stringnullable	Pass as `continuationToken` for the next page. null on the last page.

Caching and freshness

Responses are cached for up to 15 minutes, so a repeat call within that window can return the same data. It still costs 1 credit.

Errors

Errors return { success: false, error, code, docs } with the HTTP status below. Validation errors, 401/402/429 rejections and 5xx failures are free; not_found is charged (how charging works). All error codes.

Status	Code	Meaning
401	`missing_api_key`	No API key. Send it in the `x-api-key` header.
401	`invalid_api_key`	The key is unknown or was revoked.
402	`insufficient_credits`	Not enough credits for this call. Buy a pack or wait for tomorrow's top-up.
405	`method_not_allowed`	Endpoints take GET with query params.
429	`rate_limited`	Too many calls at once. Wait for the `retry-after` seconds, then retry.
500	`internal_error`	Something broke on our side. Retry; 5xx errors are free.
502	`upstream_error`	The platform didn't give a usable answer. Retry; 5xx errors are free.
503	`upstream_busy`	All our connections to the platform are busy. Retry in a few seconds; 5xx errors are free.
504	`upstream_timeout`	The platform took over 30 seconds to answer. Retry; timeouts are free.

Use it in Claude

Once LurkAPI is connected to Claude, this endpoint is the youtube_search tool. Ask in plain English, for example:

Ask Claude

Use LurkAPI's youtube_search with query "running shoes" and summarize what you find.

Claude calls youtube_search with arguments like these, and each call costs 1 credit:

Tool arguments

{
  "query": "running shoes"
}

Tool results skip nulls and empty lists to save tokens.