API¶

YouTube Object¶

class pytube.YouTube(url: str, defer_prefetch_init: bool = False, on_progress_callback: Optional[pytube.monostate.OnProgress] = None, on_complete_callback: Optional[pytube.monostate.OnComplete] = None, proxies: Dict[str, str] = None)[source]¶

Core developer interface for pytube.

author¶: Get the video author. :rtype: str

caption_tracks¶

Get a list of Caption.

Return type:	List[Caption]

captions¶

Interface to query caption tracks.

Return type:	`CaptionQuery`.

descramble() → None[source]¶

Descramble the stream data and build Stream instances.

The initialization process takes advantage of Python’s “call-by-reference evaluation,” which allows dictionary transforms to be applied in-place, instead of holding references to mutations at each interstitial step.

Return type:	None

description¶

Get the video description.

Return type:	str

initialize_stream_objects(fmt: str) → None[source]¶

Convert manifest data to instances of Stream.

Take the unscrambled stream data and uses it to initialize instances of Stream for each media stream.

Parameters:	fmt (str) – Key in stream manifest (`ytplayer_config`) containing progressive download or adaptive streams (e.g.: `url_encoded_fmt_stream_map` or `adaptive_fmts`).
Return type:	None

length¶

Get the video length in seconds.

Return type:	str

prefetch() → None[source]¶

Eagerly download all necessary data.

Eagerly executes all necessary network requests so all other operations don’t does need to make calls outside of the interpreter which blocks for long periods of time.

Return type:	None

rating¶

Get the video average rating.

Return type:	float

register_on_complete_callback(func: pytube.monostate.OnComplete)[source]¶

Register a download complete callback function post initialization.

Parameters:	func (callable) – A callback function that takes `stream` and `file_handle`.
Return type:	None

register_on_progress_callback(func: pytube.monostate.OnProgress)[source]¶

Register a download progress callback function post initialization.

Parameters:	func (callable) – A callback function that takes `stream`, `chunk`, `file_handle`, `bytes_remaining` as parameters.
Return type:	None

streams¶

Interface to query both adaptive (DASH) and progressive streams.

Return type:	`StreamQuery`.

thumbnail_url¶

Get the thumbnail url image.

Return type:	str

title¶

Get the video title.

Return type:	str

views¶

Get the number of the times the video has been viewed.

Return type:	str

Stream Object¶

class pytube.Stream(stream: Dict[KT, VT], player_config_args: Dict[KT, VT], monostate: pytube.monostate.Monostate)[source]¶

Container for stream manifest data.

default_filename¶

Generate filename based on the video title.

Return type:	str
Returns:	An os file system compatible filename.

download(output_path: Optional[str] = None, filename: Optional[str] = None, filename_prefix: Optional[str] = None, skip_existing: bool = True) → str[source]¶

Write the media stream to disk.

Parameters:	output_path (str or None) – (optional) Output path for writing media file. If one is not specified, defaults to the current working directory. filename (str or None) – (optional) Output filename (stem only) for writing media file. If one is not specified, the default filename is used. filename_prefix (str or None) – (optional) A string that will be prepended to the filename. For example a number in a playlist or the name of a series. If one is not specified, nothing will be prepended This is separate from filename so you can use the default filename but still add a prefix. skip_existing (bool) – (optional) skip existing files, defaults to True
Returns:	Path to the saved video
Return type:	str

filesize¶

File size of the media stream in bytes.

Return type:	int
Returns:	Filesize (in bytes) of the stream.

filesize_approx¶

Get approximate filesize of the video

Falls back to HTTP call if there is not sufficient information to approximate

Return type:	int
Returns:	size of video in bytes

includes_audio_track¶

Whether the stream only contains audio.

Return type:	bool

includes_video_track¶

Whether the stream only contains video.

Return type:	bool

is_adaptive¶

Whether the stream is DASH.

Return type:	bool

is_progressive¶

Whether the stream is progressive.

Return type:	bool

on_complete(file_path: Optional[str])[source]¶

On download complete handler function.

Parameters:	file_path (str) – The file handle where the media is being written to.
Return type:	None

on_progress(chunk: bytes, file_handler: BinaryIO, bytes_remaining: int)[source]¶

On progress callback function.

This function writes the binary data to the file, then checks if an additional callback is defined in the monostate. This is exposed to allow things like displaying a progress bar.

Parameters:	chunk (bytes) – Segment of media file binary data, not yet written to disk. file_handler (`io.BufferedWriter`) – The file handle where the media is being written to. bytes_remaining (int) – The delta between the total file size in bytes and amount already downloaded.
Return type:	None

parse_codecs() → Tuple[Optional[str], Optional[str]][source]¶

Get the video/audio codecs from list of codecs.

Parse a variable length sized list of codecs and returns a constant two element tuple, with the video codec as the first element and audio as the second. Returns None if one is not available (adaptive only).

Return type:	tuple
Returns:	A two element tuple with audio and video codecs.

stream_to_buffer(buffer: BinaryIO) → None[source]¶

Write the media stream to buffer

Return type:	io.BytesIO buffer

title¶

Get title of video

Return type:	str
Returns:	Youtube video title

StreamQuery Object¶

class pytube.query.StreamQuery(fmt_streams)[source]¶

Interface for querying the available media streams.

all() → List[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get all the results represented by this query as a list.

Return type:	list

asc() → pytube.query.StreamQuery[source]¶

Sort streams in ascending order.

Return type:	`StreamQuery`

count(value: Optional[str] = None) → int[source]¶

Get the count of items in the list.

Return type:	int

desc() → pytube.query.StreamQuery[source]¶

Sort streams in descending order.

Return type:	`StreamQuery`

filter(fps=None, res=None, resolution=None, mime_type=None, type=None, subtype=None, file_extension=None, abr=None, bitrate=None, video_codec=None, audio_codec=None, only_audio=None, only_video=None, progressive=None, adaptive=None, is_dash=None, custom_filter_functions=None)[source]¶

Apply the given filtering criterion.

Parameters:

fps (int or None) – (optional) The frames per second.
resolution (str or None) – (optional) Alias to res.
res (str or None) – (optional) The video resolution.
mime_type (str or None) – (optional) Two-part identifier for file formats and format contents composed of a “type”, a “subtype”.
type (str or None) – (optional) Type part of the mime_type (e.g.: audio, video).
subtype (str or None) – (optional) Sub-type part of the mime_type (e.g.: mp4, mov).
file_extension (str or None) – (optional) Alias to sub_type.
abr (str or None) – (optional) Average bitrate (ABR) refers to the average amount of data transferred per unit of time (e.g.: 64kbps, 192kbps).
bitrate (str or None) – (optional) Alias to abr.
video_codec (str or None) – (optional) Video compression format.
audio_codec (str or None) – (optional) Audio compression format.
progressive (bool) – Excludes adaptive streams (one file contains both audio and video tracks).
adaptive (bool) – Excludes progressive streams (audio and video are on separate tracks).
is_dash (bool) – Include/exclude dash streams.
only_audio (bool) – Excludes streams with video tracks.
only_video (bool) – Excludes streams with audio tracks.
custom_filter_functions (list or None) – (optional) Interface for defining complex filters without subclassing.

first() → Optional[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get the first Stream in the results.

Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	the first result of this query or None if the result doesn’t contain any streams.

get_audio_only(subtype: str = 'mp4') → Optional[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get highest bitrate audio stream for given codec (defaults to mp4)

Parameters:	subtype (str) – Audio subtype, defaults to mp4
Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	The `Stream` matching the given itag or None if not found.

get_by_itag(itag: int) → Optional[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get the corresponding Stream for a given itag.

Parameters:	itag (int) – YouTube format identifier code.
Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	The `Stream` matching the given itag or None if not found.

get_by_resolution(resolution: str) → Optional[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get the corresponding Stream for a given resolution.

Stream must be a progressive mp4.

Parameters:	resolution (str) – Video resolution i.e. “720p”, “480p”, “360p”, “240p”, “144p”
Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	The `Stream` matching the given itag or None if not found.

get_highest_resolution() → Optional[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get highest resolution stream that is a progressive video.

Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	The `Stream` matching the given itag or None if not found.

get_lowest_resolution() → Optional[pytube.streams.Stream][source]¶

Get lowest resolution stream that is a progressive mp4.

Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	The `Stream` matching the given itag or None if not found.

index(value[, start[, stop]]) → integer -- return first index of value.¶

Raises ValueError if the value is not present.

Supporting start and stop arguments is optional, but recommended.

last()[source]¶

Get the last Stream in the results.

Return type:	`Stream` or None
Returns:	Return the last result of this query or None if the result doesn’t contain any streams.

order_by(attribute_name: str) → pytube.query.StreamQuery[source]¶

Apply a sort order. Filters out stream the do not have the attribute.

Parameters:	attribute_name (str) – The name of the attribute to sort by.

otf(is_otf: bool = False) → pytube.query.StreamQuery[source]¶

Filter stream by OTF, useful if some streams have 404 URLs

Parameters:	is_otf (bool) – Set to False to retrieve only non-OTF streams
Return type:	`StreamQuery`
Returns:	A StreamQuery object with otf filtered streams

Caption Object¶

class pytube.Caption(caption_track: Dict[KT, VT])[source]¶

Container for caption tracks.

download(title: str, srt: bool = True, output_path: Optional[str] = None, filename_prefix: Optional[str] = None) → str[source]¶

Write the media stream to disk.

Parameters:	title (str) – Output filename (stem only) for writing media file. If one is not specified, the default filename is used. srt – Set to True to download srt, false to download xml. Defaults to True.

:type srt bool :param output_path:

(optional) Output path for writing media file. If one is not specified, defaults to the current working directory.

Parameters:	filename_prefix (str or None) – (optional) A string that will be prepended to the filename. For example a number in a playlist or the name of a series. If one is not specified, nothing will be prepended This is separate from filename so you can use the default filename but still add a prefix.
Return type:	str

static float_to_srt_time_format(d: float) → str[source]¶

Convert decimal durations into proper srt format.

Return type:	str
Returns:	SubRip Subtitle (str) formatted time duration.

float_to_srt_time_format(3.89) -> ‘00:00:03,890’

generate_srt_captions() → str[source]¶

Generate “SubRip Subtitle” captions.

Takes the xml captions from xml_captions() and recompiles them into the “SubRip Subtitle” format.

xml_caption_to_srt(xml_captions: str) → str[source]¶

Convert xml caption tracks to “SubRip Subtitle (srt)”.

Parameters:	xml_captions (str) – XML formatted caption tracks.

xml_captions¶: Download the xml caption tracks.

CaptionQuery Object¶

class pytube.query.CaptionQuery(captions: List[pytube.captions.Caption])[source]¶

Interface for querying the available captions.

all() → List[pytube.captions.Caption][source]¶

Get all the results represented by this query as a list.

Return type:	list

get(k[, d]) → D[k] if k in D, else d. d defaults to None.¶

get_by_language_code(lang_code: str) → Optional[pytube.captions.Caption][source]¶

Get the Caption for a given lang_code.

Parameters:	lang_code (str) – The code that identifies the caption language.
Return type:	`Caption` or None
Returns:	The `Caption` matching the given `lang_code` or None if it does not exist.

items() → a set-like object providing a view on D's items¶

keys() → a set-like object providing a view on D's keys¶

values() → an object providing a view on D's values¶

Extract¶

This module contains all non-cipher related data extraction logic.

class pytube.extract.PytubeHTMLParser(*, convert_charrefs=True)[source]¶

pytube.extract.apply_descrambler(stream_data: Dict[KT, VT], key: str) → None[source]¶

Apply various in-place transforms to YouTube’s media stream data.

Creates a list of dictionaries by string splitting on commas, then taking each list item, parsing it as a query string, converting it to a dict and unquoting the value.

Parameters:	stream_data (dict) – Dictionary containing query string encoded values. key (str) – Name of the key in dictionary.

Example:

>>> d = {'foo': 'bar=1&var=test,em=5&t=url%20encoded'}
>>> apply_descrambler(d, 'foo')
>>> print(d)
{'foo': [{'bar': '1', 'var': 'test'}, {'em': '5', 't': 'url encoded'}]}

pytube.extract.apply_signature(config_args: Dict[KT, VT], fmt: str, js: str) → None[source]¶

Apply the decrypted signature to the stream manifest.

Parameters:	config_args (dict) – Details of the media streams available. fmt (str) – Key in stream manifests (`ytplayer_config`) containing progressive download or adaptive streams (e.g.: `url_encoded_fmt_stream_map` or `adaptive_fmts`). js (str) – The contents of the base.js asset file.

pytube.extract.get_ytplayer_config(html: str) → Any[source]¶

Get the YouTube player configuration data from the watch html.

Extract the ytplayer_config, which is json data embedded within the watch html and serves as the primary source of obtaining the stream manifest data.

Parameters:	html (str) – The html contents of the watch page.
Return type:	str
Returns:	Substring of the html containing the encoded manifest data.

pytube.extract.is_age_restricted(watch_html: str) → bool[source]¶

Check if content is age restricted.

Parameters:	watch_html (str) – The html contents of the watch page.
Return type:	bool
Returns:	Whether or not the content is age restricted.

pytube.extract.js_url(html: str) → str[source]¶

Get the base JavaScript url.

Construct the base JavaScript url, which contains the decipher “transforms”.

Parameters:	html (str) – The html contents of the watch page.

pytube.extract.mime_type_codec(mime_type_codec: str) → Tuple[str, List[str]][source]¶

Parse the type data.

Breaks up the data in the type key of the manifest, which contains the mime type and codecs serialized together, and splits them into separate elements.

Example:

mime_type_codec(‘audio/webm; codecs=”opus”’) -> (‘audio/webm’, [‘opus’])

Parameters:	mime_type_codec (str) – String containing mime type and codecs.
Return type:	tuple
Returns:	The mime type and a list of codecs.

pytube.extract.video_id(url: str) → str[source]¶

Extract the video_id from a YouTube url.

This function supports the following patterns:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=video_id
https://youtube.com/embed/video_id
https://youtu.be/video_id

Parameters:	url (str) – A YouTube url containing a video id.
Return type:	str
Returns:	YouTube video id.

pytube.extract.video_info_url(video_id: str, watch_url: str) → str[source]¶

Construct the video_info url.

Parameters:	video_id (str) – A YouTube video identifier. watch_url (str) – A YouTube watch url.
Return type:	str
Returns:	`https://youtube.com/get_video_info` with necessary GET parameters.

pytube.extract.video_info_url_age_restricted(video_id: str, embed_html: str) → str[source]¶

Construct the video_info url.

Parameters:	video_id (str) – A YouTube video identifier. embed_html (str) – The html contents of the embed page (for age restricted videos).
Return type:	str
Returns:	`https://youtube.com/get_video_info` with necessary GET parameters.

Cipher¶

This module contains all logic necessary to decipher the signature.

YouTube’s strategy to restrict downloading videos is to send a ciphered version of the signature to the client, along with the decryption algorithm obfuscated in JavaScript. For the clients to play the videos, JavaScript must take the ciphered version, cycle it through a series of “transform functions,” and then signs the media URL with the output.

This module is responsible for (1) finding and extracting those “transform functions” (2) maps them to Python equivalents and (3) taking the ciphered signature and decoding it.

pytube.cipher.get_initial_function_name(js: str) → str[source]¶

Extract the name of the function responsible for computing the signature. :param str js:

The contents of the base.js asset file.

Return type:	str
Returns:	Function name from regex match

pytube.cipher.get_transform_map(js: str, var: str) → Dict[KT, VT][source]¶

Build a transform function lookup.

Build a lookup table of obfuscated JavaScript function names to the Python equivalents.

Parameters:	js (str) – The contents of the base.js asset file. var (str) – The obfuscated variable name that stores an object with all functions that descrambles the signature.

pytube.cipher.get_transform_object(js: str, var: str) → List[str][source]¶

Extract the “transform object”.

The “transform object” contains the function definitions referenced in the “transform plan”. The var argument is the obfuscated variable name which contains these functions, for example, given the function call DE.AJ(a,15) returned by the transform plan, “DE” would be the var.

Parameters:	js (str) – The contents of the base.js asset file. var (str) – The obfuscated variable name that stores an object with all functions that descrambles the signature.

Example:

>>> get_transform_object(js, 'DE')
['AJ:function(a){a.reverse()}',
'VR:function(a,b){a.splice(0,b)}',
'kT:function(a,b){var c=a[0];a[0]=a[b%a.length];a[b]=c}']

pytube.cipher.get_transform_plan(js: str) → List[str][source]¶

Extract the “transform plan”.

The “transform plan” is the functions that the ciphered signature is cycled through to obtain the actual signature.

Parameters:	js (str) – The contents of the base.js asset file.

Example:

[‘DE.AJ(a,15)’, ‘DE.VR(a,3)’, ‘DE.AJ(a,51)’, ‘DE.VR(a,3)’, ‘DE.kT(a,51)’, ‘DE.kT(a,8)’, ‘DE.VR(a,3)’, ‘DE.kT(a,21)’]

pytube.cipher.map_functions(js_func: str) → Callable[source]¶

For a given JavaScript transform function, return the Python equivalent.

Parameters:	js_func (str) – The JavaScript version of the transform function.

pytube.cipher.reverse(arr: List[T], _: Optional[Any])[source]¶

Reverse elements in a list.

This function is equivalent to:

function(a, b) { a.reverse() }

This method takes an unused b variable as their transform functions universally sent two arguments.

Example:

>>> reverse([1, 2, 3, 4])
[4, 3, 2, 1]

pytube.cipher.splice(arr: List[T], b: int)[source]¶

Add/remove items to/from a list.

This function is equivalent to:

function(a, b) { a.splice(0, b) }

Example:

>>> splice([1, 2, 3, 4], 2)
[1, 2]

pytube.cipher.swap(arr: List[T], b: int)[source]¶

Swap positions at b modulus the list length.

This function is equivalent to:

function(a, b) { var c=a[0];a[0]=a[b%a.length];a[b]=c }

Example:

>>> swap([1, 2, 3, 4], 2)
[3, 2, 1, 4]

Exceptions¶

Library specific exception definitions.

exception pytube.exceptions.ExtractError[source]¶: Data extraction based exception.

exception pytube.exceptions.HTMLParseError[source]¶: HTML could not be parsed

exception pytube.exceptions.LiveStreamError(video_id: str)[source]¶: Video is a live stream.

exception pytube.exceptions.PytubeError[source]¶

Base pytube exception that all others inherent.

This is done to not pollute the built-in exceptions, which could result in unintended errors being unexpectedly and incorrectly handled within implementers code.

exception pytube.exceptions.RegexMatchError(caller: str, pattern: Union[str, Pattern[AnyStr]])[source]¶: Regex pattern did not return any matches.

exception pytube.exceptions.VideoUnavailable(video_id: str)[source]¶: Video is unavailable.

Mixins¶

Helpers¶

Various helper functions implemented by pytube.

pytube.helpers.cache(func: Callable[[...], GenericType]) → GenericType[source]¶: mypy compatible annotation wrapper for lru_cache

pytube.helpers.deprecated(reason: str) → Callable[source]¶: This is a decorator which can be used to mark functions as deprecated. It will result in a warning being emitted when the function is used.

pytube.helpers.regex_search(pattern: str, string: str, group: int) → str[source]¶

Shortcut method to search a string for a given pattern.

Parameters:	pattern (str) – A regular expression pattern. string (str) – A target string to search. group (int) – Index of group to return.
Return type:	str or tuple
Returns:	Substring pattern matches.

pytube.helpers.safe_filename(s: str, max_length: int = 255) → str[source]¶

Sanitize a string making it safe to use as a filename.

This function was based off the limitations outlined here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filename.

Parameters:	s (str) – A string to make safe for use as a file name. max_length (int) – The maximum filename character length.
Return type:	str
Returns:	A sanitized string.

pytube.helpers.setup_logger(level: int = 40)[source]¶

Create a configured instance of logger.

Parameters:	level (int) – Describe the severity level of the logs to handle.

pytube.helpers.target_directory(output_path: Optional[str] = None) → str[source]¶

Function for determining target directory of a download. Returns an absolute path (if relative one given) or the current path (if none given). Makes directory if it does not exist.

Returns:	An absolute directory path as a string.

Request¶

Implements a simple wrapper around urlopen.

pytube.request.filesize[source]¶

Fetch size in bytes of file at given URL

Parameters:	url (str) – The URL to get the size of
Returns:	int: size in bytes of remote file

pytube.request.get(url) → str[source]¶

Send an http GET request.

Parameters:	url (str) – The URL to perform the GET request for.
Return type:	str
Returns:	UTF-8 encoded string of response

pytube.request.head(url: str) → Dict[KT, VT][source]¶

Fetch headers returned http GET request.

Parameters:	url (str) – The URL to perform the GET request for.
Return type:	dict
Returns:	dictionary of lowercase headers

pytube.request.stream(url: str, chunk_size: int = 4096, range_size: int = 9437184) → Iterable[bytes][source]¶: Read the response in chunks. :param str url: The URL to perform the GET request for. :param int chunk_size: The size in bytes of each chunk. Defaults to 4KB :param int range_size: The size in bytes of each range request. Defaults to 9MB :rtype: Iterable[bytes]