API Reference

This API reference explains how to schedule live broadcasts and video streams on YouTube using the YouTube Live Streaming API.

Resource types

LiveBroadcasts

A liveBroadcast resource represents an event that will be streamed, via live video, on YouTube.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
bind POST /liveBroadcasts/bind Binds a YouTube broadcast to a stream or removes an existing binding between a broadcast and a stream. A broadcast can only be bound to one video stream, though a video stream may be bound to more than one broadcast.
delete DELETE /liveBroadcasts Deletes a broadcast.
insert POST /liveBroadcasts Creates a broadcast.
list GET /liveBroadcasts Returns a list of YouTube broadcasts that match the API request parameters.
transition POST /liveBroadcasts/transition Changes the status of a YouTube live broadcast and initiates any processes associated with the new status. For example, when you transition a broadcast's status to testing, YouTube starts to transmit video to that broadcast's monitor stream. Before calling this method, you should confirm that the value of the status.streamStatus property for the stream bound to your broadcast is active.
update PUT /liveBroadcasts Updates a broadcast. For example, you could modify the broadcast settings defined in the liveBroadcast resource's contentDetails object.
control POST /liveBroadcasts/control Controls the settings for a slate that can be displayed in the broadcast stream.

LiveChatBans

A liveChatBan resource identifies a YouTube user and a YouTube live chat that the user is banned from participating in.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
delete DELETE /liveChat/bans Removes a ban that prevents a specific user from contributing to a live chat, thereby enabling the user to rejoin the chat. The API request must be authorized by the channel owner or a moderator of the live chat associated with the ban.
insert POST /liveChat/bans Bans a specific user from participating in the live chat. The API request must be authorized by the channel owner or a moderator of the live chat associated with the ban.

LiveChatMessages

A liveChatMessage resource represents a chat message in a YouTube live chat. The resource can contain details about several types of messages, including a newly posted text message or fan funding event.

The live chat feature is enabled by default for live broadcasts and is available while the live event is active. (After the event ends, live chat is no longer available for that event.)

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
delete DELETE /liveChat/messages Deletes a chat message. The API request must be authorized by the channel owner or a moderator of the live chat associated with the ban.
insert POST /liveChat/messages Adds a message to a live chat.
list GET /liveChat/messages Lists live chat messages for a specific chat.

LiveChatModerators

A liveChatModerator resource represents a moderator for a YouTube live chat. A chat moderator has the ability to ban or unban users from a chat, remove messages, and perform other administrative actions for the live chat.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
delete DELETE /liveChat/moderators Removes a chat moderator. The request must be authorized by the owner of the live broadcast's channel.
insert POST /liveChat/moderators Adds a new moderator for the chat. The request must be authorized by the owner of the live broadcast's channel.
list GET /liveChat/moderators Lists moderators for a live chat. The request must be authorized by the owner of the live broadcast's channel.

LiveCuepoints

A liveCuepoint resource starts an ad break in the broadcast video stream.

Note: The API command for controlling cuepoints is actually part of the YouTube Content ID API and has different authorization requirements than requests to manage liveBroadcast and liveStream resources.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/partner/v1
insert POST /liveCuepoints Inserts a cuepoint into a live broadcast. Currently, requests to this method must be authorized by an account associated with a YouTube Content Owner.

LiveStreams

A liveStream resource contains information about the video stream that you are transmitting to YouTube. The stream provides the content that will be broadcast to YouTube users. Once created, a liveStream resource can be bound to one or more liveBroadcast resources.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
delete DELETE /liveStreams Deletes a video stream.
insert POST /liveStreams Creates a video stream. The stream enables you to send your video to YouTube, which can then broadcast the video to your audience.
list GET /liveStreams Returns a list of video streams that match the API request parameters.
update PUT /liveStreams Updates a video stream. If the properties that you want to change cannot be updated, then you need to create a new stream with the proper settings.

Sponsors

A sponsor resource represents a sponsor for a YouTube channel. A sponsor provides recurring monetary support, like a subscription or membership fee, to a creator and receives special benefits. For example, sponsors are able to chat when the creator turns on sponsors-only mode for a chat.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
list GET /sponsors Lists sponsors for a channel. The API request must be authorized by the channel owner.

SuperChatEvents

A superChatEvent resource represents a Super Chat message purchased by a fan during a YouTube live stream. In the YouTube live chat stream, Super Chats stand out from other messages in two ways:

  • Super Chats are highlighted with a color.
  • Super Chats stay pinned in the ticker for a set period of time.

The color of the Super Chat, the period of time it stays pinned in the ticker, and the maximum message length are all determined by the purchase amount. See the YouTube Help Center to learn more about Super Chats.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
list GET /superChatEvents List Super Chat events from a channel's live streams in the previous 30 days.

Deprecated resource types

FanFundingEvents

A fanFundingEvent resource represents a Fan Funding event on a YouTube channel. Fan Funding provides a way to monetarily support YouTube creators. A Fan Funding event occurs when a user makes a one-time, voluntary payment to a channel. See the YouTube Help Center to learn more about Fan Funding.

For more information about this resource, see its resource representation and list of properties.

Method HTTP request Description
URIs relative to https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3
list GET /fanFundingEvents Lists fan funding events for a channel. The API request must be authorized by the channel owner.