---
name: youtube
description: |
  YouTube Data API integration with managed OAuth. Search videos, manage playlists, access channel data, and interact with comments. Use this skill when users want to interact with YouTube. For other third party apps, use the api-gateway skill (https://clawhub.ai/byungkyu/api-gateway).
compatibility: Requires network access and valid Maton API key
metadata:
  author: maton
  version: "1.0"
  clawdbot:
    emoji: 🧠
    requires:
      env:
        - MATON_API_KEY
---

# YouTube

Access the YouTube Data API v3 with managed OAuth authentication. Search videos, manage playlists, access channel information, and interact with comments and subscriptions.

## Quick Start

```bash
# Search for videos
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&q=coding+tutorial&type=video&maxResults=10')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

## Base URL

```
https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/{native-api-path}
```

Replace `{native-api-path}` with the actual YouTube Data API endpoint path. The gateway proxies requests to `www.googleapis.com` and automatically injects your OAuth token.

## Authentication

All requests require the Maton API key in the Authorization header:

```
Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY
```

**Environment Variable:** Set your API key as `MATON_API_KEY`:

```bash
export MATON_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
```

### Getting Your API Key

1. Sign in or create an account at [maton.ai](https://maton.ai)
2. Go to [maton.ai/settings](https://maton.ai/settings)
3. Copy your API key

## Connection Management

Manage your Google OAuth connections at `https://ctrl.maton.ai`.

### List Connections

```bash
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections?app=youtube&status=ACTIVE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

### Create Connection

```bash
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'app': 'youtube'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

### Get Connection

```bash
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

**Response:**
```json
{
  "connection": {
    "connection_id": "21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80",
    "status": "ACTIVE",
    "creation_time": "2025-12-08T07:20:53.488460Z",
    "last_updated_time": "2026-01-31T20:03:32.593153Z",
    "url": "https://connect.maton.ai/?session_token=...",
    "app": "youtube",
    "metadata": {}
  }
}
```

Open the returned `url` in a browser to complete OAuth authorization.

### Delete Connection

```bash
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}', method='DELETE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

### Specifying Connection

If you have multiple YouTube connections, specify which one to use with the `Maton-Connection` header:

```bash
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet&mine=true')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Maton-Connection', '21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

If omitted, the gateway uses the default (oldest) active connection.

## API Reference

### Search

#### Search Videos, Channels, or Playlists

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/search
```

Query parameters:
- `part` - Required: `snippet`
- `q` - Search query
- `type` - Filter by type: `video`, `channel`, `playlist`
- `maxResults` - Results per page (1-50, default 5)
- `order` - Sort order: `date`, `rating`, `relevance`, `title`, `viewCount`
- `publishedAfter` - Filter by publish date (RFC 3339)
- `publishedBefore` - Filter by publish date (RFC 3339)
- `channelId` - Filter by channel
- `videoDuration` - `short` (<4min), `medium` (4-20min), `long` (>20min)
- `pageToken` - Pagination token

**Example:**

```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&q=machine+learning&type=video&maxResults=10&order=viewCount" -H "Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY"
```

**Response:**
```json
{
  "kind": "youtube#searchListResponse",
  "nextPageToken": "CAUQAA",
  "pageInfo": {
    "totalResults": 1000000,
    "resultsPerPage": 10
  },
  "items": [
    {
      "kind": "youtube#searchResult",
      "id": {
        "kind": "youtube#video",
        "videoId": "abc123xyz"
      },
      "snippet": {
        "publishedAt": "2024-01-15T10:00:00Z",
        "channelId": "UCxyz123",
        "title": "Machine Learning Tutorial",
        "description": "Learn ML basics...",
        "thumbnails": {
          "default": {"url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/abc123xyz/default.jpg"}
        },
        "channelTitle": "Tech Channel"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

### Videos

#### Get Video Details

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics,contentDetails&id={videoId}
```

Parts available:
- `snippet` - Title, description, thumbnails, channel info
- `statistics` - View count, likes, comments
- `contentDetails` - Duration, dimension, definition
- `status` - Upload status, privacy status
- `player` - Embedded player HTML

**Example:**

```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics&id=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -H "Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY"
```

#### Get My Videos (Uploaded)

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&forMine=true&type=video&maxResults=25
```

#### Rate Video (Like/Dislike)

```bash
POST /youtube/youtube/v3/videos/rate?id={videoId}&rating=like
```

Rating values: `like`, `dislike`, `none`

#### Get Trending Videos

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics&chart=mostPopular&regionCode=US&maxResults=10
```

#### Get Video Categories

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/videoCategories?part=snippet&regionCode=US
```

### Channels

#### Get Channel Details

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet,statistics,contentDetails&id={channelId}
```

#### Get My Channel

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet,statistics,contentDetails&mine=true
```

**Response:**
```json
{
  "items": [
    {
      "id": "UCxyz123",
      "snippet": {
        "title": "My Channel",
        "description": "Channel description",
        "customUrl": "@mychannel",
        "publishedAt": "2020-01-01T00:00:00Z",
        "thumbnails": {...}
      },
      "statistics": {
        "viewCount": "1000000",
        "subscriberCount": "50000",
        "videoCount": "100"
      },
      "contentDetails": {
        "relatedPlaylists": {
          "uploads": "UUxyz123"
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

#### Get Channel by Username

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet,statistics&forUsername={username}
```

### Playlists

#### List My Playlists

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?part=snippet,contentDetails&mine=true&maxResults=25
```

#### Get Playlist

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?part=snippet,contentDetails&id={playlistId}
```

#### Create Playlist

```bash
POST /youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?part=snippet,status
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "snippet": {
    "title": "My New Playlist",
    "description": "A collection of videos",
    "defaultLanguage": "en"
  },
  "status": {
    "privacyStatus": "private"
  }
}
```

Privacy values: `public`, `private`, `unlisted`

#### Update Playlist

```bash
PUT /youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?part=snippet,status
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "id": "PLxyz123",
  "snippet": {
    "title": "Updated Playlist Title",
    "description": "Updated description"
  },
  "status": {
    "privacyStatus": "public"
  }
}
```

#### Delete Playlist

```bash
DELETE /youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?id={playlistId}
```

### Playlist Items

#### List Playlist Items

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/playlistItems?part=snippet,contentDetails&playlistId={playlistId}&maxResults=50
```

#### Add Video to Playlist

```bash
POST /youtube/youtube/v3/playlistItems?part=snippet
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "snippet": {
    "playlistId": "PLxyz123",
    "resourceId": {
      "kind": "youtube#video",
      "videoId": "abc123xyz"
    },
    "position": 0
  }
}
```

#### Remove from Playlist

```bash
DELETE /youtube/youtube/v3/playlistItems?id={playlistItemId}
```

### Subscriptions

#### List My Subscriptions

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/subscriptions?part=snippet&mine=true&maxResults=50
```

#### Check Subscription to Channel

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/subscriptions?part=snippet&mine=true&forChannelId={channelId}
```

#### Subscribe to Channel

```bash
POST /youtube/youtube/v3/subscriptions?part=snippet
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "snippet": {
    "resourceId": {
      "kind": "youtube#channel",
      "channelId": "UCxyz123"
    }
  }
}
```

#### Unsubscribe

```bash
DELETE /youtube/youtube/v3/subscriptions?id={subscriptionId}
```

### Comments

#### List Video Comments

```bash
GET /youtube/youtube/v3/commentThreads?part=snippet,replies&videoId={videoId}&maxResults=100
```

#### Add Comment to Video

```bash
POST /youtube/youtube/v3/commentThreads?part=snippet
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "snippet": {
    "videoId": "abc123xyz",
    "topLevelComment": {
      "snippet": {
        "textOriginal": "Great video!"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Reply to Comment

```bash
POST /youtube/youtube/v3/comments?part=snippet
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "snippet": {
    "parentId": "comment123",
    "textOriginal": "Thanks for your comment!"
  }
}
```

#### Delete Comment

```bash
DELETE /youtube/youtube/v3/comments?id={commentId}
```

## Code Examples

### JavaScript

```javascript
const headers = {
  'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.MATON_API_KEY}`
};

// Search videos
const results = await fetch(
  'https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&q=tutorial&type=video&maxResults=10',
  { headers }
).then(r => r.json());

// Get video details
const video = await fetch(
  'https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics&id=dQw4w9WgXcQ',
  { headers }
).then(r => r.json());

// Create playlist
await fetch(
  'https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?part=snippet,status',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { ...headers, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      snippet: { title: 'My Playlist', description: 'Videos I like' },
      status: { privacyStatus: 'private' }
    })
  }
);
```

### Python

```python
import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['MATON_API_KEY']}"}

# Search videos
results = requests.get(
    "https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/search",
    headers=headers,
    params={"part": "snippet", "q": "tutorial", "type": "video", "maxResults": 10},
).json()

# Get video details
video = requests.get(
    "https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/videos",
    headers=headers,
    params={"part": "snippet,statistics", "id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ"},
).json()

# Create playlist
response = requests.post(
    "https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/playlists?part=snippet,status",
    headers=headers,
    json={
        "snippet": {"title": "My Playlist", "description": "Videos I like"},
        "status": {"privacyStatus": "private"},
    },
)
```

## Notes

- Video IDs are 11 characters (e.g., `dQw4w9WgXcQ`)
- Channel IDs start with `UC` (e.g., `UCxyz123`)
- Playlist IDs start with `PL` (user) or `UU` (uploads)
- Use `pageToken` for pagination through large result sets
- The `part` parameter is required and determines what data is returned
- Quota costs vary by endpoint - search is expensive (100 units), reads are cheap (1 unit)
- Some write operations require channel verification
- IMPORTANT: When using curl commands, use `curl -g` when URLs contain brackets (`fields[]`, `sort[]`, `records[]`) to disable glob parsing
- IMPORTANT: When piping curl output to `jq` or other commands, environment variables like `$MATON_API_KEY` may not expand correctly in some shell environments. You may get "Invalid API key" errors when piping.

## Error Handling

| Status | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| 400 | Missing YouTube connection or invalid request |
| 401 | Invalid or missing Maton API key |
| 403 | Forbidden - quota exceeded or insufficient permissions |
| 404 | Video, channel, or playlist not found |
| 429 | Rate limited (10 req/sec per account) |
| 4xx/5xx | Passthrough error from YouTube API |

### Troubleshooting: API Key Issues

1. Check that the `MATON_API_KEY` environment variable is set:

```bash
echo $MATON_API_KEY
```

2. Verify the API key is valid by listing connections:

```bash
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
```

### Troubleshooting: Invalid App Name

1. Ensure your URL path starts with `youtube`. For example:

- Correct: `https://gateway.maton.ai/youtube/youtube/v3/search`
- Incorrect: `https://gateway.maton.ai/v3/search`

## Resources

- [YouTube Data API Overview](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3)
- [Search](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/search/list)
- [Videos](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/videos)
- [Channels](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/channels)
- [Playlists](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/playlists)
- [PlaylistItems](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/playlistItems)
- [Subscriptions](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/subscriptions)
- [Comments](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/comments)
- [Quota Calculator](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/determine_quota_cost)
- [Maton Community](https://discord.com/invite/dBfFAcefs2)
- [Maton Support](mailto:support@maton.ai)