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YouTube.js

A JavaScript client for YouTube's private API - access videos, comments, live chats, and streaming data without API keys or quotas

TL;DR

One-liner: YouTube.js (youtubei.js) is a full-featured JavaScript client for YouTube’s private InnerTube API that works in Node.js, Deno, and browsers.

Core values:

  • No API keys or quotas required
  • Access videos, comments, live chats, and streaming data
  • Cross-platform support (Node.js, Deno, browsers)
  • Full control over video downloads and streaming

Quick Start

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 16.8+ (uses undici’s fetch implementation)
  • EventTarget and CustomEvent support
  • Spec-compliant fetch with ReadableStream support

Installation

# npm
npm install youtubei.js@latest

# Yarn
yarn add youtubei.js@latest

# Deno
deno add npm:youtubei.js@latest

# Git (edge version)
npm install github:LuanRT/YouTube.js

Verify Installation

import { Innertube } from 'youtubei.js';

const youtube = await Innertube.create();
console.log('YouTube.js initialized successfully!');

First Command

import { Innertube } from 'youtubei.js';

const youtube = await Innertube.create();

// Search for videos
const results = await youtube.search('JavaScript tutorials');
console.log(results.videos[0].title);

// Get video info
const info = await youtube.getBasicInfo('dQw4w9WgXcQ');
console.log(info.basic_info.title);

Cheatsheet

OperationCode
Initialize clientconst yt = await Innertube.create()
Search videosawait yt.search('query')
Get basic infoawait yt.getBasicInfo('videoId')
Get full infoawait yt.getInfo('videoId')
Download videoconst stream = await info.download()
Choose formatinfo.chooseFormat({ type: 'audio', quality: 'best' })
Get streaming URLformat.decipher(yt.session.player)
Convert to DASHinfo.toDash()
Get commentsawait yt.getComments('videoId')
Access live chatconst livechat = info.getLiveChat()

Gotchas

Issue 1: Video downloads missing audio

Reason: YouTube serves video and audio as separate streams for many formats. The default download may only include video.

Solution:

const info = await youtube.getInfo('videoId');

// Choose specific format with both video and audio
const format = info.chooseFormat({
  type: 'video+audio',
  quality: 'best'
});

// Or download audio and video separately and merge them
const audioFormat = info.chooseFormat({ type: 'audio', quality: 'best' });
const videoFormat = info.chooseFormat({ type: 'video', quality: 'best' });

Issue 2: Streaming URLs expire

Reason: YouTube generates time-limited URLs for streaming. These URLs typically expire after 6 hours.

Solution:

// Always fetch fresh info when streaming
const info = await youtube.getBasicInfo('videoId');
const url = info.streaming_data?.formats[0].decipher(yt.session.player);

// For long-running apps, refresh URLs periodically

Issue 3: Rate limiting and blocks

Reason: YouTube may rate-limit or block requests if they detect automated access patterns.

Solution:

// Use reasonable delays between requests
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));

// Consider implementing exponential backoff
// Rotate IP addresses or use proxies for high-volume use cases

Next Steps