# YouTube Video Description Extractor (`alpha-scraper/youtube-video-description-extractor`) Actor

📺  collects public video descriptions and thumbnail URLs from one or multiple YouTube video links. Simply paste the URLs and get clean, structured metadata ready for analysis, research, and automation workflows.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/alpha-scraper/youtube-video-description-extractor.md
- **Developed by:** [Alpha Scraper](https://apify.com/alpha-scraper) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, Social media, Other
- **Stats:** 13 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$5.00/month + usage

To use this Actor, you pay a monthly rental fee to the developer. The rent is subtracted from your prepaid usage every month after the free trial period. You also pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher Apify subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#rental-actors

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## 📺 YouTube Video Description Scraper

Welcome to **YouTube Video Description Scraper** 🚀
This actor helps you easily collect **YouTube video descriptions and public metadata** from one or multiple video URLs — quickly, cleanly, and without any manual effort.

This README explains **what data you get**, **how to use the actor**, **what each output field means**, and **how to avoid common issues**.

***

### ✨ What This Actor Provides

This actor extracts **publicly available information** from YouTube video URLs that you provide.

It is designed for:

- 📊 Data collection
- 📝 Content analysis
- 🔍 Research & monitoring
- 🤖 Automation workflows

You only need to paste video URLs — the actor takes care of the rest.

***

### 📦 Outputs Generated

For each YouTube video URL, the actor produces **one output record** containing structured data.

All results are stored in the **default dataset** and can be:

- Downloaded as JSON / CSV
- Connected to other automations
- Used in reports or dashboards

***

### 🧾 Output Fields Explained

Each output item contains the following fields:

#### 🔗 `youtubeVideoUrl`

- The original YouTube video URL you provided
- Useful for reference, validation, or reprocessing

#### 🖼️ `thumbnail url`

- The main thumbnail image URL of the video
- Can be used for previews, thumbnails, or visual analysis

#### 📝 `description`

- The full video description as shown on YouTube
- Includes:

  - Text written by the creator
  - Links (websites, social media, affiliate links)
  - Hashtags and mentions

***

### 🌟 Features & Overview

- ✔ Supports **multiple YouTube video URLs** at once

- ✔ Extracts **clean and structured data**

- ✔ Works with both:

- `youtube.com/watch?v=...`

- `youtu.be/...` formats

- ✔ Automatically skips unavailable videos

- ✔ Output is ready for automation and analysis

***

### 💡 Benefits & Advantages

#### 🚀 Saves Time

No need to manually open videos and copy descriptions.

#### 📈 Scalable

Process many video URLs in a single run.

#### 🧹 Clean Output

Data is returned in a structured, machine‑friendly format.

#### 🔄 Easy Integration

Perfect for:

- No‑code tools
- Data pipelines
- AI workflows

***

### 📥 Input Format

The actor accepts **one or multiple YouTube video URLs**.

#### ✅ Input Sample

```json
{
  "startUrls": [
    { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" },
    { "url": "https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0" }
  ]
}
```

You can add as many URLs as you want.

***

### 📤 Output Sample

```json
[
  {
    "youtubeVideoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "thumbnail url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/dQw4w9WgXcQ/maxresdefault.webp",
    "description": "The official video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. \n\nNever: The Autobiography 📚 OUT NOW! \nFollow this link to get your copy and listen to Rick’s ‘Never’ playlist ❤️ #RickAstleyNever\nhttps://linktr.ee/rickastleynever\n\n“Never Gonna Give You Up” was a global smash on its release in July 1987, topping the charts in 25 countries including Rick’s native UK and the US Billboard Hot 100.  It also won the Brit Award for Best single in 1988. Stock Aitken and Waterman wrote and produced the track which was the lead-off single and lead track from Rick’s debut LP “Whenever You Need Somebody”.  The album was itself a UK number one and would go on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide.\n\nThe legendary video was directed by Simon West – who later went on to make Hollywood blockbusters such as Con Air, Lara Croft – Tomb Raider and The Expendables 2.  The video passed the 1bn YouTube views milestone on 28 July 2021.\n\nSubscribe to the official Rick Astley YouTube channel: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/YTSubID\n\nFollow Rick Astley:\nFacebook: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/FBFollowID \nTwitter: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/TwitterID \nInstagram: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/InstagramID \nWebsite: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/storeID \nTikTok: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/TikTokID\n\nListen to Rick Astley:\nSpotify: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/SpotifyID \nApple Music: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/AppleMusicID \nAmazon Music: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/AmazonMusicID \nDeezer: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/DeezerID \n\nLyrics:\nWe’re no strangers to love\nYou know the rules and so do I\nA full commitment’s what I’m thinking of\nYou wouldn’t get this from any other guy\n\nI just wanna tell you how I’m feeling\nGotta make you understand\n\nNever gonna give you up\nNever gonna let you down\nNever gonna run around and desert you\nNever gonna make you cry\nNever gonna say goodbye\nNever gonna tell a lie and hurt you\n\nWe’ve known each other for so long\nYour heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it\nInside we both know what’s been going on\nWe know the game and we’re gonna play it\n\nAnd if you ask me how I’m feeling\nDon’t tell me you’re too blind to see\n\nNever gonna give you up\nNever gonna let you down\nNever gonna run around and desert you\nNever gonna make you cry\nNever gonna say goodbye\nNever gonna tell a lie and hurt you\n\n#RickAstley #NeverGonnaGiveYouUp #WheneverYouNeedSomebody #OfficialMusicVideo"
  },
  {
    "youtubeVideoUrl": "https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0",
    "thumbnail url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/9bZkp7q19f0/maxresdefault.webp",
    "description": "PSY - ‘I LUV IT’ M/V @ https://youtu.be/Xvjnoagk6GU\nPSY - ‘New Face’ M/V @https://youtu.be/OwJPPaEyqhI\n\nPSY - 8TH ALBUM '4X2=8' on iTunes @\nhttps://smarturl.it/PSY_8thAlbum\n\nPSY - GANGNAM STYLE(강남스타일) on iTunes @ http://smarturl.it/PsyGangnam\n\n#PSY #싸이 #GANGNAMSTYLE #강남스타일\n\nMore about PSY@\nhttp://www.youtube.com/officialpsy\nhttp://www.facebook.com/officialpsy\nhttp://twitter.com/psy_oppa\nhttps://www.instagram.com/42psy42\nhttp://iTunes.com/PSY\nhttp://sptfy.com/PSY\nhttp://weibo.com/psyoppa"
  }
]
```

Each video produces **one output item**.

***

### 🧠 Best Practices

- ✅ Always use **valid and public YouTube video URLs**
- ✅ Avoid age‑restricted or private videos
- ✅ Use smaller batches if processing many URLs
- ✅ Re‑run the actor if descriptions change over time

***

### ⚠️ Possible Errors & How to Avoid Them

#### No Output Returned

**Possible causes:**

- Invalid URL
- Video removed or private

**How to avoid:**

- Double‑check the URL
- Ensure the video is publicly accessible

***

#### Empty Description Field

**Possible causes:**

- Video has no description

**How to avoid:**

- This is normal behavior — not an error

***

#### Some URLs Are Skipped

**Possible causes:**

- Video unavailable in your region
- Temporary access issues

**How to avoid:**

- Try again later
- Use alternative video URLs when possible

***

### 📌 Use Cases

- 🧠 AI training data collection
- 📊 YouTube content research
- 🔗 Link extraction from descriptions
- 📣 Marketing & competitor analysis
- 📰 Media monitoring

***

### 🧑‍💻 Support & Feedback

If you face any issues or need improvements:

📧 Email: **<alphascraper69@gmail.com>**
🛠️ Or use the **Issues** tab — fixes are provided quickly

***

### ⭐ Final Notes

This actor is built to be:

- Simple
- Reliable
- Automation‑friendly

Just paste your YouTube URLs and get clean description data instantly 🎯

Happy scraping! 🚀

***

## Here my another actors :

### Youtube Iteams:

- [🎶 Youtube Audio Downloader (Video/Shorts)](https://console.apify.com/actors/lTUPL4gmLTDNXBeWw/source)
- [Youtube Video Downloader Advanced](https://console.apify.com/actors/XOpQsUkgGZLGSCJd0/source)
- [Youtube Video Downloader ( Soundless )](https://console.apify.com/actors/gFsczW1QplIquv9eL/source)
- [Youtube Video Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/9kZQcUlHZRKp1ilZA/source)
- [Youtube Video Details Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/On4VfiWjGnT79clm1/source)
- [Youtube Transcript Ninja (Subtitles) ](https://console.apify.com/actors/eWrsJHhdeEbVHChpX/source)
- [Youtube Thumbnails Downloader & Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/YShot3wkL0HJdRkD0/source)
- [Youtube Tags or Hashtags Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/O1FU99ID2ccR5wcS8/source)
- [Youtube Tags Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/1wVokAhQLbbeeFVfR/source)
- [Youtube Shorts Scraper lite](https://console.apify.com/actors/bOyWDt1IbXZsadWRp/source)
- [Youtube Shorts Downloader Pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/bN1AjNRMops81rGkg/source)
- [Youtube Shorts Comments Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/ON1C4qgHaEQEhhEmI/source)
- [Youtube Community Posts Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/X38E51BParHFNaCw1/source)
- [Youtube Channel Id Scraper Pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/2uuIEovgGHcYjEKyN/source)
- [Youtube Video Transcript  Scraper ( Subtitles )](https://console.apify.com/actors/IEmSN6FkNn0tw10BA/source)
- [Youtube Video Comments Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/URh4zBT1aesfE8QKc/source)
- [Youtube Shorts Scraper  Pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/G4McyHJJzc2TbUSo6/source)
- [Youtube Shorts Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/XP0WgKweF1M83FnmR/source)
- [Youtube Channel Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/ufMZfwMgyHeaoDdAd/source)
- [YouTube Video Description Extractor](https://console.apify.com/actors/Xqae3CmxqT3HfHaJ5/source)
- [YouTube Hashtag Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/d4bYqQ0LWuczEgumx/source)
- [YouTube Description Scraper pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/OVymx0bku0C8gowB0/source)
- [YouTube Comments Scraper | Pay Per Result](https://console.apify.com/actors/ict6AecoJ85T4RthZ/source)
- [YouTube Channel ID Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/P9XlG8ylMGqfoelOg/source)

### Tiktok Iteams:

- [Tiktok Video Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/dlyQGIrqOracdqOeb/source)
- [Tiktok Video Details Scraper Pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/kZMMAHBehLOdG2FBb/source)
- [Tiktok Profile Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/C9mdCvPs7mDV8AYdd/source)
- [TikTok Video Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/7NjipRJbS73X9Io90/source)
- [TikTok Profile Videos Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/F6ar6Hu5STLp5mdAf/source)
- [TikTok Profile Scraper pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/3fmkMmoCBQ4SBIIAN/source)
- [TikTok Audio Downloader 🎵](https://console.apify.com/actors/jHipu7fQihSVhBE3x/source)

### Snapchat Iteams:

- [Snapchat Video Downloader (Spotlight )](https://console.apify.com/actors/yKz99HNmn4AgmhPOf/source)
- [Snapchat Video  Details Scraper (Spotlight)](https://console.apify.com/actors/fyV48EkRqcNoeq2kH/source)
- [Snapchat Followers Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/PxBiNYw0mgZOagGyD/source)
- [Snapchat Profile     Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/siCUsZdm6xmc3g7HF/source)
- [Snapchat Profile Scraper  Mini](https://console.apify.com/actors/qhkQO51Cv6iHJxdAs/source)

### Instagram Iteams:

- [Instagram video Downloader + Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/zIpixF6ZjlbelQDrY/source)
- [Instagram Video Downloader (Soundlss)](https://console.apify.com/actors/QQkJuhIQp4pexakls/source)
- [Instagram Thumbnail Scraper Video & Reels](https://console.apify.com/actors/z8JOosBY8hlqiUthl/source)
- [Instagram Reels  Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/VRbovYCWXTZXuVaN2/source)
- [Instagram Profile URL to Username Converter & Extractor](https://console.apify.com/actors/FOApkedA1VuG6ncno/source)
- [Instagram Profile Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/5dvorBkg7ccX95wAg/source)
- [Instagram Post Videos Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/h95ZexZ0ifOX4JEYQ/source)
- [Instagram Followers Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/c55pdH9mCE02sj7Dg/source)
- [Instagram Audio Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/MQRNuEHUqKreEi8gI/source)
- [Instagram Video Scraper + Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/63Z5eSy3IxgdIEYOX/source)
- [Instagram Video  scraper Advanced](https://console.apify.com/actors/79ng2nukXLzUn0aWg/source)
- [Instagram Video Details  scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/VLyBXSwQpHTFwUcds/source)
- [Instagram Reels Details scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/oGR3xfeXTuIirhdlZ/source)
- [Instagram Followers Scraper Pro](https://console.apify.com/actors/MqW3EtUZXm6OHdvcI/source)

### Facebook Iteams:

- [Facebook reels Downloader  (Separate audio or video)](https://console.apify.com/actors/nuvIRaMeRIzz3cfxK/source)
- [Facebook Video Downloader advanced](https://console.apify.com/actors/2SU8ZuABbAVFNKMZa/source)
- [Facebook Video Details Scraper Advanced](https://console.apify.com/actors/umYouAXm92472jIdY/source)
- [Facebook Video Details Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/cQi4k63arffL6Cn0m/source)
- [Facebook Transcript & Subtitle scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/hMNe1QYDOtcTc95qI/source)
- [Facebook Thumbnail Downloader Video & Reels](https://console.apify.com/actors/9SmYiqGTUia29Yd1Y/source)
- [Facebook Reels Downloader Advanced](https://console.apify.com/actors/3Zdnp9TnvltdoC44T/source)
- [Facebook Reels Details Scraper  Best and  Affordable](https://console.apify.com/actors/nuzr418MKJltywrCh/source)
- [Facebook Reels Details Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/OGBA89e5Ki6Y5amko/source)
- [Facebook Page Details Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/PL9nP9BrKDSsKwSZF/source)
- [Facebook Audio Downloader](https://console.apify.com/actors/uVrcf4OJ9VW8iCybQ/source)

### Amazon Iteams:

- [Amazon Search Scraper](https://console.apify.com/actors/YcgJR1WP1cHJhHzvH/source)
- [Amazon Product Details Scraper ](https://console.apify.com/actors/1twpltijc10KFaVeb/source)

# Actor input Schema

## `startUrls` (type: `array`):

List of one or more YouTube video URLs

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0"
    }
  ]
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "startUrls": [
        {
            "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
        },
        {
            "url": "https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0"
        }
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("alpha-scraper/youtube-video-description-extractor").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "startUrls": [
        { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" },
        { "url": "https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0" },
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("alpha-scraper/youtube-video-description-extractor").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0"
    }
  ]
}' |
apify call alpha-scraper/youtube-video-description-extractor --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,alpha-scraper/youtube-video-description-extractor"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/Xqae3CmxqT3HfHaJ5/builds/fKEhDdpN4H2dRhEQt/openapi.json