# YouTube Shorts Scraper – Metadata & Stats (`scrapingmonkey/youtube-short-details-scraper`) Actor

Extract public YouTube Shorts metadata from URLs. Get titles, descriptions, channels, engagement, thumbnails, chapters, and available caption-track details.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapingmonkey/youtube-short-details-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ScrapingMonkey](https://apify.com/scrapingmonkey) (community)
- **Categories:**
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

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

## 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

Collect the public metadata behind known YouTube Shorts links. **YouTube Shorts Details Scraper** keeps the title, description, channel, engagement, thumbnail references, and available caption information in one row.

Use it to enrich a Shorts catalogue, review campaign clips, or connect a short-form content list with the channel and metrics behind each link.

| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| 📥 Input | Full YouTube Shorts or other supported video URLs |
| 📤 Output | Title, description, channel, metrics, thumbnails, chapters, and caption metadata |
| 🔐 Login required | No YouTube credentials or cookies |
| ⚡ Processing | Up to 5 requests concurrently with automatic retries |
| 💾 Delivery | One detail row per processed input |

### What the YouTube Shorts scraper extracts 🔎

The Actor retrieves public watch-page metadata for each video ID. Available fields include:

- Video ID, canonical, watch and embed URLs, title, description, and duration
- Publish and upload dates, category, keywords, hashtags, and description links
- Channel identity, handle, avatar variants, verification, and visible subscriber count
- View, like, and comment counts, plus available count labels
- Thumbnail variants, chapters, caption tracks, and translation-language options
- Available live, upcoming, embedding, privacy, and paid-promotion indicators

### How to scrape YouTube Shorts 🚀

1. Add full Shorts URLs to `inputList`.
2. Start the Actor and review each result's status.
3. Choose the metadata columns needed for your catalogue or report.
4. Export the dataset or join it to existing records by video ID.

```json
{
  "inputList": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mU6SRS2Bxo"
  ]
}
```

### YouTube Shorts data fields and output 📦

| Field group | Included data |
|---|---|
| Video | Identity, title, description, duration, dates, category, and keywords |
| Channel | ID, name, handle, URL, avatars, verification, and subscribers |
| Engagement | View, like, and comment counts, plus available source labels |
| Media context | Thumbnails, chapter timing, caption tracks, and translation options |
| Access and live state | Available playback, embedding, live, upcoming, and promotion indicators |

Complete illustrative success item. The content and values below are fictional examples, not a live result:

```json
{
  "input": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrailWalk01x",
  "status": "success",
  "id": "TrailWalk01x",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrailWalk01x",
  "watch_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrailWalk01x",
  "embed_url": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/TrailWalk01x",
  "type": "short",
  "title": "A quiet forest moment",
  "description": "A short forest walk. Route notes: https://example.com/trail #Hiking",
  "duration_seconds": 45,
  "duration_text": "0:45",
  "publish_date": "2026-09-01",
  "upload_date": "2026-09-01",
  "category": "Travel & Events",
  "thumbnail_url": "https://example.com/forest-path.jpg",
  "thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/forest-path-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/forest-path.jpg"
  ],
  "thumbnails.width": [
    640,
    1280
  ],
  "thumbnails.height": [
    360,
    720
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "hiking",
    "forest walk"
  ],
  "author.id": "UCaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "author.name": "Trail Journal",
  "author.handle": "@trailjournal",
  "author.url": "https://www.youtube.com/@trailjournal",
  "author.avatar_url": "https://example.com/trail-avatar.jpg",
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.url": [
    "https://example.com/trail-avatar-small.jpg",
    "https://example.com/trail-avatar.jpg"
  ],
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.width": [
    80,
    160
  ],
  "author.avatar_thumbnails.height": [
    80,
    160
  ],
  "author.is_verified": false,
  "author.subscribers_text": "18.4K subscribers",
  "author.subscribers": 18400,
  "statistics.views": 12400,
  "statistics.views_text": "12,400 views",
  "statistics.likes": 286,
  "statistics.likes_text": "286",
  "statistics.comments": 18,
  "statistics.comments_hidden": false,
  "captions.name": [
    "English"
  ],
  "captions.language_code": [
    "en"
  ],
  "captions.vss_id": [
    ".en"
  ],
  "captions.url": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/api/timedtext?v=TrailWalk01x&lang=en"
  ],
  "captions.is_auto_generated": [
    false
  ],
  "captions.is_translatable": [
    true
  ],
  "translation_languages.language_code": [
    "es"
  ],
  "translation_languages.name": [
    "Spanish"
  ],
  "chapters.title": [],
  "chapters.start_seconds": [],
  "chapters.timestamp": [],
  "live.is_live_content": false,
  "live.is_live_now": null,
  "live.is_upcoming": false,
  "live.start_at": null,
  "live.end_at": null,
  "live.concurrent_viewers": null,
  "availability.status": "OK",
  "availability.reason": null,
  "availability.is_private": false,
  "availability.is_unlisted": false,
  "availability.is_family_safe": true,
  "availability.is_age_restricted": false,
  "availability.allow_ratings": true,
  "availability.is_embeddable": true,
  "availability.available_countries": [],
  "is_shorts_eligible": true,
  "is_paid_promotion": false,
  "description_links": [
    "https://example.com/trail"
  ],
  "hashtags": [
    "#Hiking"
  ]
}
```

Each result stays in one row, with the same literal dotted keys in the table and JSON. Thumbnail URLs and dimensions align by position, as do caption-track and chapter columns. Caption entries are track references; the transcript text is collected by the separate transcript Actor.

Missing optional fields can be `null`, empty strings, or empty lists. Some flags default to `false` when no signal is present. A failed row retains `input`, sets `status` to `failed`, and leaves the result-data fields null.

### Input requirements and coverage ⚙️

| Parameter | Type | Default | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| `inputList` | array of strings | Required | At least one full YouTube video URL; bare IDs are not accepted. |

Supported video links include /watch?v=, youtu.be, /shorts/, /live/, /embed/, and /v/ forms on the accepted YouTube hosts. URLs must identify an 11-character video ID. Bare IDs, channel links, and playlist-only links are not accepted.

Output uses a /shorts/ URL and `type: short`. This Actor does not independently verify that the target is a Short: supported watch links also work. Check `is_shorts_eligible` when YouTube supplies it, and submit known Shorts for a Shorts-only dataset.

Repeated input entries are processed separately, even when they refer to the same target. Remove duplicate entries before the run if you want to avoid repeated results.

### YouTube short use cases 🎯

#### Content catalogue enrichment

Add descriptions, channel identity, publication dates, and thumbnail references to an existing video list.

#### Campaign reporting

Compare the available engagement and public metadata for a selected set of campaign links.

#### Caption and chapter planning

Inspect available caption languages and chapter times before selecting videos for transcript collection or manual review.

#### Publication checks

Review accessible embedding, availability, and live-state indicators for videos included in your own catalogue.

### Pricing and billable short rows 💰

Check the Actor's **Pricing** tab for the current charging model and rate.

Under dataset-item pricing, each saved success or failed row can be billable. Automatic retries do not independently create extra rows. Repeated input entries can produce repeated billable results.

Thumbnails, chapters, and caption-track references remain in the same result row; they do not create separate dataset items.

### YouTube Short Details Scraper API and integrations 🔌

Use the Actor ID from the **API** tab as `$ACTOR_ID` and your Apify token as `$APIFY_TOKEN`.

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/$ACTOR_ID/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"inputList":["https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mU6SRS2Bxo"]}'
```

This request starts a run. Retrieve the default dataset after completion, or use schedules and webhooks to connect it to a recurring workflow. Export JSON, CSV, or Excel, or send selected fields to Google Sheets, Make, Zapier, or your own application.

### Reliability and limits ⚠️

Temporary request failures are retried. Invalid or unavailable targets produce failed rows while other inputs can continue. If a required collection step cannot be completed, the target can fail even when some public information is visible in a browser.

The Actor checks that returned metadata belongs to the requested video ID. Private, deleted, age-restricted, or otherwise unavailable videos can fail. Some optional fields remain null even on a successful row.

Counts can be parsed from rounded public labels. Read numeric values with their accompanying text, where supplied. Availability and live flags reflect the retrieved page; missing or false values are not a guarantee of current playback. Media references can expire.

### Frequently asked questions ❓

#### Does it return the transcript text?

It returns available caption-track references and language information. Use YouTube Video Transcript Scraper for caption text and timed segments.

#### Can I submit a bare video ID?

No. Submit a full supported YouTube video URL.

#### Are view and subscriber counts exact?

They depend on the values YouTube exposes. Counts derived from abbreviated labels can be rounded; retain the original text where available.

#### Does it collect comments or download the video?

No. It returns metadata, media references, and available comment totals. Comment text and media downloads are separate tasks.

#### Does a success result prove the video is a Short?

No. It normalizes supported video IDs into the Shorts output format without independently validating the content type.

### Support, responsible use, and related actors 🛟

For a reproducible issue, share the run ID, a safe public input, and the field or behavior you expected through the Actor's support channel. Keep tokens and other credentials out of support messages.

Use public content in accordance with applicable privacy, copyright, contractual, and platform requirements.

# Actor input Schema

## `inputList` (type: `array`):

Add full YouTube Shorts URLs, one per item. Raw IDs are not accepted.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "inputList": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mU6SRS2Bxo"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Success and failed rows. Check the status column.

# 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 = {
    "inputList": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mU6SRS2Bxo"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapingmonkey/youtube-short-details-scraper").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 = { "inputList": ["https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mU6SRS2Bxo"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapingmonkey/youtube-short-details-scraper").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 '{
  "inputList": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mU6SRS2Bxo"
  ]
}' |
apify call scrapingmonkey/youtube-short-details-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

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

```

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/W2pqapDaIaB518p6h/builds/Q7eBNmfQ6PRRhEogi/openapi.json