# YouTube Channel API YouTube Returns a public YouTube channel from its handle, link or ID, with its subscriber count, exact video and view counts, and its About panel links. It also has the channel ID, handle, name, description, keywords, avatar, banner, verification badge, country and join date. Accepts a handle with or without the @, any channel link with any tab (@handle, /channel/UC…, the legacy /c/, /user/ and root vanity links), or a bare channel ID. GET `/v1/youtube/profile` ## Example cURL: ```shell curl -G 'https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile' \ --data-urlencode 'handle=@NASA' \ -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY" ``` TypeScript SDK: ```typescript import { SocialTap } from "socialtap"; const client = new SocialTap(); // apiKey defaults to process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY const res = await client.youtube.profile.get({ handle: "@NASA" }); console.log(res.data); console.log(res.credits.charged, res.meta.request_id); ``` Node.js (fetch): ```javascript const params = new URLSearchParams({ handle: "@NASA", }); const res = await fetch(`https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile?${params}`, { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" }, }); const body = await res.json(); if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`); const { data, meta } = body; console.log(data, meta.credits_charged); ``` Python (requests): ```python import os import requests res = requests.get( "https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile", params={"handle": "@NASA"}, headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]}, ) body = res.json() if not res.ok: raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}") data, meta = body["data"], body["meta"] print(data, meta["credits_charged"]) ``` Go (net/http): ```go package main import ( "encoding/json" "fmt" "log" "net/http" "net/url" "os" ) func main() { q := url.Values{} q.Set("handle", "@NASA") req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://socialtap.dev/v1/youtube/profile?"+q.Encode(), nil) if err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY")) res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) if err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } defer res.Body.Close() var body struct { Data json.RawMessage `json:"data"` Meta map[string]any `json:"meta"` Error *struct { Code string `json:"code"` Message string `json:"message"` } `json:"error"` } if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } if body.Error != nil { log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message) } fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"]) } ``` 200 OK: ```json { "data": { "approximate_fields": [ "created_at", "metrics.follower_count" ], "avatar_url": "https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/eIf5fNPcIcj9ig-wZBeq4stFy1lgjWTW1nLT5dYlFkHZprZ03QBiMcbpwNMB6XSBjrSFGtAGQg=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj", "banner_url": "https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/y8Srh-oCcilLvBO8jAPI546m1bn0puA5DIvQiBZ1cSxc_rZfKxKSFlTCtoCQCtB6viUf1NGsaQ=w2560-fcrop64=1,00005a57ffffa5a8-k-c0xffffffff-no-nd-rj", "bio": "NASA's mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.\n\nTo do that, we have worked around the world—and off it—for more than 60 years, searching for answers to fundamental questions about our place in the universe. We're expl…", "category": null, "country_code": null, "created_at": "2008-06-03T07:00:00Z", "display_name": "NASA", "external_links": [ { "title": "nasa.gov", "url": "https://www.nasa.gov" }, { "title": "X", "url": "https://x.com/nasa" }, { "title": "Facebook", "url": "https://www.facebook.com/NASA" } ], "id": "UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ", "is_private": false, "is_verified": true, "location": null, "metrics": { "follower_count": 15100000, "following_count": null, "post_count": 6194, "total_like_count": null, "total_view_count": 1132473139 }, "platform": "youtube", "platform_specific": { "youtube": { "is_business_email_listed": null, "is_official_artist_channel": false, "is_subscriber_count_hidden": false, "keywords": [ "nasa", "space", "iss" ] } }, "type": "unknown", "unknown_fields": [], "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@NASA", "username": "NASA" }, "meta": { "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f", "platform": "youtube", "source": "api", "is_cached": false, "credits_charged": 1, "latency_ms": 456, "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z", "input": { "kind": "profile", "id": "UCLA_DiR1FfKNvjuUpBHmylQ", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@NASA" }, "credits_remaining": 9999, "client_request_id": null, "warnings": [] } } ``` Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete. > [!NOTE] > > **Good to know** > > - metrics.follower_count is the subscriber count YouTube shows, rounded for display (listed in approximate_fields), and null when the channel hides it. Video and view counts are exact, and both are null for a channel without public videos. > - created_at is the start of the US Pacific day YouTube shows as the join date, in UTC, so the channel was created within the following day (listed in approximate_fields). > - location is the country the owner set, as YouTube names it, and country_code its ISO code. > - is_verified is true for the check mark and for an Official Artist Channel's note badge. YouTube's built-in channels (Music, Sports, Gaming, News, Learning, Live, Fashion & Beauty, Shopping) have no badge or banner (null), and all but Music have no About panel, so they return what their header shows. > - A bare string is a handle, even one shaped like a video ID. Send a channel link or the UC… ID to be unambiguous. Links to youtube.com pages that are not channels return not_found or invalid_input. > - metrics.following_count and metrics.total_like_count are always null and type is unknown, because YouTube does not show them. Business email addresses are behind a sign-in and are not returned. > - Terminated and unknown channels return not_found. ## Authorizations `x-api-key`stringheaderrequired Your API key. [Authentication](https://socialtap.dev/docs/authentication/index.md) ## Query parameters | Name | Type | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `handle` required | `string`
max 2,048 chars | YouTube channel: a handle with or without the @ (NASA, @NASA), any channel link (youtube.com/@NASA, youtube.com/channel/UC…, the legacy youtube.com/c/\, youtube.com/user/\ and youtube.com/\ links, with any tab or view after them such as /videos, /playlists, /posts or /about, and m. or music. hosts), a bare UC… channel ID, or c/\, user/\ or vanity/\. Handles are case-insensitive. A bare string is always a handle, even one shaped like a video ID. | `@NASA` | `handle` takes YouTube profile links; another kind of link, or another platform's, fails free with [`invalid_input`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input). Unknown parameters are rejected with a suggestion, never ignored ([Requests](https://socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md)). **Parameters every endpoint accepts** | Name | Type | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `max_age` optional | `integer`
min 0 | Accept a cached response up to this many seconds old. Cache hits cost 0 credits. Omit to always fetch fresh. The Cache-Control: max-age=N request header is equivalent; max_age wins when both are sent. | — | | `fields` optional | `string` | Return only these fields of each item: comma-separated paths in the schema's notation (id,text,metrics.view_count,segments\[\].text; a parent path keeps the whole object). Unknown paths are rejected. Applied after the cache, so it changes neither the price nor cache hits; page and meta are always returned whole. | — | ## Response ### 200 `{data, meta}`. `data` is a [profile](https://socialtap.dev/resources/profile/index.md) object; `meta` describes the request ([meta](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/index.md#meta)). Fields only YouTube has are under `platform_specific.youtube`. | Field | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `data.platform` | `string` | Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). | | `data.id` | `string` | Platform-native account ID (string; YouTube UC…, Reddit t2_…). | | `data.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. | | `data.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name, channel title or page name; null when empty or not exposed. | | `data.url` | `string` (uri) | Canonical profile URL. | | `data.type` | `string` | Coarse account kind, as the platform labels it; unknown when it does not (TikTok labels organizations only). New values may be added; treat unknown values as unknown.
One of `person`, `organization`, `community`, `unknown` | | `data.bio` | `string` or `null` | Profile bio, channel description or page about text; null when empty or not exposed. | | `data.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL (largest available). Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. | | `data.banner_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Header or cover image URL. | | `data.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. | | `data.is_private` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the account's posts are not public. | | `data.category` | `string` or `null` | Platform category label (e.g. Musician, Media & Entertainment), as shown; not normalized. Often set only for business or creator accounts. | | `data.external_links` | `object[]` | Links in the bio or channel links; \[\] if none or not exposed. | | `data.external_links[].url` | `string` (uri) | Link target, absolute (https:// is added where the platform stores the link without a scheme). | | `data.external_links[].title` | `string` or `null` | Link label shown by the platform. | | `data.location` | `string` or `null` | Self-declared location text. | | `data.country_code` | `string` or `null` | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country the platform states for the account. | | `data.created_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | Account creation or join date, RFC 3339 UTC (some platforms give only the day: see approximate_fields). | | `data.metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. | | `data.metrics.follower_count` | `integer` or `null` | Followers or subscribers. | | `data.metrics.following_count` | `integer` or `null` | Accounts this profile follows. | | `data.metrics.post_count` | `integer` or `null` | Posts or videos as the platform counts them on the profile (for a private account, posts the caller cannot see). | | `data.metrics.total_like_count` | `integer` or `null` | Likes received across all of the profile's posts (not likes given). | | `data.metrics.total_view_count` | `integer` or `null` | Lifetime views across all of the profile's posts. | | `data.platform_specific` | `object` | Fields only this platform has, under its ID (platform_specific.\); each null when unknown. | | `data.platform_specific.youtube` | `object` or `null` | A YouTube channel's own fields. | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.keywords` | `string[]` | The channel's keywords as its owner wrote them, a quoted phrase as one keyword; \[\] when it has none (listed in unknown_fields when the source cannot see them). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.is_official_artist_channel` | `boolean` or `null` | True for an Official Artist Channel (the note badge after its name), false for any other channel; null when the page shows no badge row (YouTube's built-in channels). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.is_subscriber_count_hidden` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the channel hides its subscriber count (metrics.follower_count is then null; neither its About panel nor its header shows one), false when YouTube shows it; null when that cannot be told (no About panel or header seen). | | `data.platform_specific.youtube.is_business_email_listed` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the channel lists a business email (shown to signed-in users only; the address is not returned); null otherwise, since YouTube shows nothing for a channel without one. | | `data.approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values rounded by the platform or parsed from display text (e.g. metrics.follower_count). A list path (external_links) means the list may be incomplete. \[\] when all exact. | | `data.unknown_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of lists whose \[\] means unknown rather than none (a source that cannot see them); null already means unknown for every other field. \[\] when every list is known. | not_found and private_or_unavailable are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned. ### 400 400 Bad Request: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `invalid_input` | 400 | No | A parameter is missing or malformed, or the link is not one this endpoint takes. | Fix the parameter named in param as the message says. For a link of the wrong kind, call an endpoint listed in details.endpoints, when there is one. | ### 401 401 Unauthorized: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, or its key is unknown or revoked. On the dashboard's routes: the session cookie is missing or expired. | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header. No key yet? A person gets one at details.signup_url; an AI agent follows details.agent_auth_url. | ### 402 402 Payment Required: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Have a person buy credits at details.purchase_url (or make them a checkout link with details.checkout), then repeat the request. Do not retry automatically. | | `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for this period. The account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at, or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}). Do not retry automatically. | ### 403 403 Forbidden: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request, and details.reason says why: the account is suspended, the key lacks the route's scope, waits for its owner to confirm it by email, has expired, or was used from an IP outside its allowlist, or a rotated key's previous secret was used for a call that needs the admin scope. A running job stops with it too when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item: a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403, so branch on the code. | Act on details.reason. suspended: contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev). scope: use a key with details.required_scope. previous_secret: use the new secret. key_pending: have the owner open the emailed link. key_expired or key_revoked: create a new key. ip_not_allowed: call from an allowed IP. | | `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is not public: it is private, age- or region-restricted, or needs a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key), so branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched. Do not retry. | ### 404 404 Not Found: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. On GET /v1/requests/{id}/response: the response was not kept (details.reason says why). | Check the link or ID. Do not retry. | ### 429 429 Too Many Requests: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account passed its runaway-protection ceiling: a high per-account limit that stops a broken client loop (plans have no rate limit). Requests without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint) are limited per IP address instead. It also stops an account whose failed requests in the last hour cost far more than its successful ones paid for: failures are free within a limit (the message says so), and successes raise it. | Wait the seconds in the retry-after header, then retry. If your steady traffic needs more, ask [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) to raise the ceiling; without an API key, send one. | ### 500 500 Internal Error: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | An unexpected error on SocialTap's side. | Retry with backoff. If it keeps happening, contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) with the request_id. | ### 502 502 Bad Gateway: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed, or answered with something we could not read. | Retry with backoff. Failed requests are free. | ### 503 503 Unavailable: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt, our own retries included. | Retry later with backoff. Failed requests are free. | | `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was at capacity, or paused by its operators, and did not start the request. Nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the seconds in the retry-after header. Failed requests are free. | ## Pricing From **1 credit** per request. Charged only for successful requests. Errors are free. The price depends on the source that produced the result, reported as `meta.source`; sources are tried cheapest first: Platform API → Public page. | Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests | | --- | --- | --- | | Any source | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.97 | **Balance, sources and what you were charged** Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts. | meta.source | Source | What it means | | --- | --- | --- | | `api` | Platform API | The platform's public, logged-out API. | | `page` | Public page | Data embedded in the platform's public web page. | `meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md) Endpoint ID `youtube.profile` · operationId `youtube.profile.get` · [Product overview](https://socialtap.dev/apis/youtube/profile/index.md) --- [HTML version](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/youtube/profile/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)