Extract the unique video ID from any YouTube URL format instantly. Whether you have a standard watch URL, a short link, a Shorts URL, or an embed code, our tool pulls out the 11-character video ID.
Supported URL Formats
- **Standard:** youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
- **Short URL:** youtu.be/VIDEO_ID
- **Shorts:** youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID
- **Embed:** youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID
- **Mobile:** m.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
Why You Need the Video ID
The YouTube video ID is a fundamental building block for many developer tasks. You need it to:
- Make YouTube Data API calls
- Build custom thumbnail URLs directly
- Create custom embed codes
- Link to specific video formats
- Parse and store video references in databases
About YouTube Video IDs
Every YouTube video gets a unique 11-character ID composed of letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. This ID never changes even if the video title changes, making it the most reliable way to reference a specific video.