How to use
01
Paste any YouTube link
Drop the URL into the YouTube URL field. Watch pages, youtu.be links, /shorts/ and /embed/ paths, and bare 11 character IDs all parse, including links carrying t or list parameters.
02
Read the parsed fields
Results render instantly: Video ID, Watch URL, Short URL, Embed URL, plus Start in seconds and formatted time when a timestamp exists, and Playlist ID when the link came from a playlist.
03
Verify and copy
The medium quality thumbnail confirms visually that the ID belongs to the video you meant. Then use the copy button on any row to take just that value.
Why YouTube URL Parser
- Extract video ID, timestamp, and playlist ID from any YouTube URL.
- Handles full URLs, youtu.be short links, /shorts/, /embed/, and bare IDs.
- Live result, no submit button.
Common questions
How does the parser extract video id from url strings?
It matches the URL against every known YouTube pattern: the v parameter on watch pages, the path segment on youtu.be, /shorts/ and /embed/ paths, and the bare ID format. Whichever matches, the same 11 character identifier comes out.
What youtube link formats does the parser recognize?
Standard watch URLs, youtu.be short links, Shorts links, embed URLs, and plain video IDs. Query noise like feature flags, si tracking codes, and app referrer parameters gets ignored, so messy shared links parse cleanly.
Can it read the timestamp from a shared link?
Yes. A link like youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?t=42 produces Start rows showing 42 seconds and the formatted 0:42 version. Both the t and start parameter spellings are understood.
Why would I need the embed URL instead of the watch URL?
Iframes require the /embed/ path; pointing an iframe at a watch page gets refused by YouTube. The parser hands you the correct embed form so you don't have to build it by hand.
Will the YouTube URL Parser show playlist information?
When a link contains a list parameter, the Playlist ID row appears with the full identifier. That's useful for confirming whether a shared link opens a single video or drags the whole playlist along with it.
Is a YouTube video ID always 11 characters?
Yes, every public video ID is exactly 11 characters drawn from letters, digits, hyphen, and underscore. If the parser can't find an 11 character candidate in your input, it reports that nothing could be extracted.
What happens if I paste a channel or playlist only link?
Nothing parses, because there's no video ID present. The tool needs a link that references a specific video. For channel pages, use the YouTube Channel ID Finder instead.