what is YouTube MCP Server?
YouTube MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation that utilizes the YouTube Data API, allowing AI language models to interact with YouTube content through a standardized interface.
how to use YouTube MCP Server?
To use the YouTube MCP Server, you can install it via npm or Smithery, configure your environment with the required YouTube API key, and then utilize various MCP tools to interact with YouTube data.
key features of YouTube MCP Server?
- Retrieve detailed video information including title, description, and statistics.
- Manage video transcripts with multi-language support.
- Analyze channel statistics and growth metrics.
- Access trending videos by region and category.
use cases of YouTube MCP Server?
- Analyzing video engagement metrics for content creators.
- Retrieving and displaying video transcripts for accessibility.
- Monitoring trending content in specific categories for market research.
FAQ from YouTube MCP Server?
- What is required to run the YouTube MCP Server?
You need Node.js 18.0.0 or higher and a valid YouTube Data API key.
- Can I customize the language for video transcripts?
Yes, you can specify language preferences for transcripts in the configuration.
- Is there a license for this project?
Yes, the project is licensed under the MIT License.
YouTube MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation utilizing the YouTube Data API. It allows AI language models to interact with YouTube content through a standardized interface.
Key Features
Video Information
- Retrieve detailed video information (title, description, duration, statistics)
- Search for videos by keywords
- Get related videos based on a specific video
- Calculate and analyze video engagement ratios
Transcript/Caption Management
- Retrieve video captions with multi-language support
- Specify language preferences for transcripts
- Access time-stamped captions for precise content reference
Channel Analysis
- View detailed channel statistics (subscribers, views, video count)
- Get top-performing videos from a channel
- Analyze channel growth and engagement metrics
Trend Analysis
- View trending videos by region and category
- Compare performance metrics across multiple videos
- Discover popular content in specific categories
Available Tools
The server provides the following MCP tools:
| Tool Name | Description | Required Parameters |
|---|---|---|
getVideoDetails | Get detailed information about multiple YouTube videos including metadata, statistics, and content details | videoIds (array) |
searchVideos | Search for videos based on a query string | query, maxResults (optional) |
getTranscripts | Retrieve transcripts for multiple videos | videoIds (array), lang (optional) |
getRelatedVideos | Get videos related to a specific video based on YouTube's recommendation algorithm | videoId, maxResults (optional) |
getChannelStatistics | Retrieve detailed metrics for multiple channels including subscriber count, view count, and video count | channelIds (array) |
getChannelTopVideos | Get the most viewed videos from a specific channel | channelId, maxResults (optional) |
getVideoEngagementRatio | Calculate engagement metrics for multiple videos (views, likes, comments, and engagement ratio) | videoIds (array) |
getTrendingVideos | Get currently popular videos by region and category | regionCode (optional), categoryId (optional), maxResults (optional) |
compareVideos | Compare statistics across multiple videos | videoIds (array) |
Installation
Automatic Installation via Smithery
Automatically install YouTube MCP Server for Claude Desktop via Smithery:
npx -y @smithery/cli install @icraft2170/youtube-data-mcp-server --client claude
Manual Installation
# Install from npm
npm install youtube-data-mcp-server
# Or clone repository
git clone https://github.com/icraft2170/youtube-data-mcp-server.git
cd youtube-data-mcp-server
npm install
Environment Configuration
Set the following environment variables:
YOUTUBE_API_KEY: YouTube Data API key (required)YOUTUBE_TRANSCRIPT_LANG: Default caption language (optional, default: 'ko')
MCP Client Configuration
Add the following to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"youtube": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "youtube-data-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE",
"YOUTUBE_TRANSCRIPT_LANG": "ko"
}
}
}
}
YouTube API Setup
- Access Google Cloud Console
- Create a new project or select an existing one
- Enable YouTube Data API v3
- Create API credentials (API key)
- Use the generated API key in your environment configuration
Development
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run in development mode
npm run dev
# Build
npm run build
Network Configuration
The server exposes the following ports for communication:
- HTTP: 3000
- gRPC: 3001
System Requirements
- Node.js 18.0.0 or higher
Security Considerations
- Always keep your API key secure and never commit it to version control systems
- Manage your API key through environment variables or configuration files
- Set usage limits for your API key to prevent unauthorized use
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
