The YouTube documentation is shambles so here is a quick reference of how you do this and what it means. This post follows on from an earlier post on how to display YouTube Video thumbs using jQuery. The first one in the list is a full size image and others are thumbnail images.
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/0.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/1.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/2.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/3.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/1.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/2.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/3.jpg
There os also high quality, medium quality and standard definition version of the thumbnails.
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/default.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/hqdefault.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/mqdefault.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/sddefault.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/hqdefault.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/mqdefault.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/dXo0LextZTU/sddefault.jpg
More Info
You don’t need an API key to use this service. All of the above urls are available over https too. Just change http to https in any of the above urls. Additionally, the slightly shorter hostname i3.ytimg.com works in place of img.youtube.com in the example urls above.Code Examples
JS – https://code.google.com/p/youtube-api-samples/source/browse/#git%2Fsamples%2Fjavascript PHP – https://code.google.com/p/youtube-api-samples/source/browse/samples/php/upload_thumbnail.phpSource
https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/docs/videos#snippet.thumbnails.%28key%29 http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2068344/how-to-get-thumbnail-of-youtube-video-link-using-youtube-apiFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about YouTube Video Thumbnail URLs
How can I extract a YouTube video thumbnail URL?
Extracting a YouTube video thumbnail URL is quite simple. All you need is the video ID, which is a unique identifier for each YouTube video. It is usually found in the video’s URL after “watch?v=”. Once you have the video ID, you can use it to form the thumbnail URL. The standard format is: “https://img.youtube.com/vi/<video_id>/0.jpg”. Replace “<video_id>” with your actual video ID, and you will get the thumbnail URL.
What are the different sizes of YouTube video thumbnails available?
YouTube provides video thumbnails in various sizes. The standard thumbnail URL provides the image in full quality. However, you can get the thumbnail in different sizes by changing the number at the end of the URL. For instance, “https://img.youtube.com/vi/<video_id>/1.jpg” gives a smaller thumbnail, while “https://img.youtube.com/vi/<video_id>/3.jpg” gives a medium-sized thumbnail.
Can I use YouTube API to get video thumbnail URLs?
Yes, you can use the YouTube Data API to get video thumbnail URLs. The API provides a JSON response that includes the video’s thumbnail URLs in different sizes. You need to make a GET request to “https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/videos?id=<video_id>&key=<your_api_key>&part=snippet”. Replace “<video_id>” with your video ID and “<your_api_key>” with your YouTube Data API key.
Why can’t I see the thumbnail image when I open the thumbnail URL in my browser?
If you can’t see the thumbnail image when you open the thumbnail URL in your browser, it could be because the video is private, deleted, or not available in your country. YouTube does not provide thumbnails for such videos.
Can I change the thumbnail of my YouTube video?
Yes, you can change the thumbnail of your YouTube video. Go to your YouTube Studio, select the video you want to change the thumbnail for, and click on “Thumbnail”. You can then upload a new image or choose from the auto-generated thumbnails.
Are there any restrictions on using YouTube video thumbnails?
YouTube’s Terms of Service do not explicitly prohibit the use of video thumbnails. However, they do state that you should not misuse the service. This could potentially include using thumbnails in a misleading way or using them for commercial purposes without permission.
How can I download a YouTube video thumbnail?
To download a YouTube video thumbnail, open the thumbnail URL in your browser, right-click on the image, and select “Save Image As”. You can then save the image to your device.
Can I get a high-resolution thumbnail for a YouTube video?
Yes, you can get a high-resolution thumbnail for a YouTube video. The standard thumbnail URL provides the image in full quality. However, you can get a higher resolution thumbnail by using the “maxresdefault.jpg” endpoint. The URL format is “https://img.youtube.com/vi/<video_id>/maxresdefault.jpg”.
Can I get a thumbnail for a YouTube playlist?
Yes, you can get a thumbnail for a YouTube playlist. The thumbnail of a playlist is usually the thumbnail of the first video in the playlist. You can get the playlist thumbnail URL by using the YouTube Data API.
Can I use a YouTube video thumbnail in my blog or website?
Yes, you can use a YouTube video thumbnail in your blog or website. However, you should ensure that your use of the thumbnail complies with YouTube’s Terms of Service and does not infringe on any copyrights.
Sam DeeringSam Deering has 15+ years of programming and website development experience. He was a website consultant at Console, ABC News, Flight Centre, Sapient Nitro, and the QLD Government and runs a tech blog with over 1 million views per month. Currently, Sam is the Founder of Crypto News, Australia.
