extract-youtube 1.0.0
A Python module to extract thumbnail URLs from YouTube video URLs with multiple quality options
License: MIT
Requires Python: >=3.8
Keywords: extractor, image, thumbnail, url, video, youtube

# YouTube Thumbnail Extractor

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A Python module to extract thumbnail URLs from YouTube video URLs with support for multiple quality options and URL verification.

## Features

- Extract thumbnails from various YouTube URL formats
- Support for multiple thumbnail qualities (maxresdefault, sddefault, hqdefault, mqdefault, default)
- Optional URL verification to check if thumbnails actually exist
- Handle single URLs or batch processing of multiple URLs
- Simple, clean API with comprehensive error handling

## Installation

```bash
pip install extract-youtube
```

## Quick Start

```python
from extractor import YouTubeThumbnailExtractor

# Create an instance
extractor = YouTubeThumbnailExtractor()

# Extract thumbnail from a single URL
url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
thumbnail = extractor.extract_thumbnail(url)

if thumbnail:
    print(f"Video ID: {thumbnail.video_id}")
    print(f"Best thumbnail: {thumbnail.url}")
    print(f"High quality: {thumbnail.hqdefault}")
    print(f"Medium quality: {thumbnail.mqdefault}")
```

## Supported URL Formats

The extractor supports all common YouTube URL formats:

- `https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID`
- `https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID`
- `https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID`
- `https://www.youtube.com/v/VIDEO_ID`
- And more variations with or without `www.` and `https://`

## API Reference

### `YouTubeThumbnailExtractor`

#### Methods

##### `extract_thumbnail(url, quality='maxresdefault', verify_existence=False)`

Extract thumbnail information from a single YouTube URL.

**Parameters:**
- `url` (str): YouTube video URL
- `quality` (str): Preferred thumbnail quality (default: 'maxresdefault')
- `verify_existence` (bool): Whether to verify thumbnail exists via HTTP request

**Returns:** `ThumbnailInfo` object or `None` if invalid URL

##### `extract_thumbnails(urls, quality='maxresdefault', verify_existence=False)`

Extract thumbnails from multiple YouTube URLs.

**Parameters:**
- `urls` (List[str]): List of YouTube video URLs
- `quality` (str): Preferred thumbnail quality
- `verify_existence` (bool): Whether to verify thumbnails exist

**Returns:** List of `ThumbnailInfo` objects

### `ThumbnailInfo`

Data class containing thumbnail information:

- `video_id`: YouTube video ID
- `url`: Best quality thumbnail URL based on preferences
- `maxresdefault`: 1280x720 thumbnail URL
- `sddefault`: 640x480 thumbnail URL
- `hqdefault`: 480x360 thumbnail URL
- `mqdefault`: 320x180 thumbnail URL
- `default`: 120x90 thumbnail URL

## Thumbnail Quality Options

| Quality | Resolution | Description |
|---------|------------|-------------|
| maxresdefault | 1280x720 | Highest quality (may not exist for all videos) |
| sddefault | 640x480 | Standard definition |
| hqdefault | 480x360 | High quality |
| mqdefault | 320x180 | Medium quality |
| default | 120x90 | Lowest quality (always available) |

## Usage Examples

### Basic Usage

```python
from extractor import YouTubeThumbnailExtractor

extractor = YouTubeThumbnailExtractor()

# Single URL
url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
thumbnail = extractor.extract_thumbnail(url)
print(thumbnail.url)
```

### Batch Processing

```python
urls = [
    'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ',
    'https://youtu.be/jNQXAC9IVRw',
    'https://www.youtube.com/embed/M7lc1UVf-VE'
]

thumbnails = extractor.extract_thumbnails(urls)
for thumb in thumbnails:
    print(f"{thumb.video_id}: {thumb.url}")
```

### With URL Verification

```python
# Verify that thumbnail URLs actually exist
thumbnail = extractor.extract_thumbnail(
    url, 
    quality='hqdefault',
    verify_existence=True
)
```

### Command Line Interface

The package also includes a command-line tool:

```bash
# Extract thumbnails from URLs in a file
extract-youtube --url-file urls.txt --quality hqdefault --verify

# Help
extract-youtube --help
```

## Error Handling

The extractor gracefully handles various error conditions:

- Invalid YouTube URLs return `None`
- Network errors during verification are handled gracefully
- Missing thumbnails fall back to lower quality options

## Requirements

- Python 3.8+
- requests >= 2.25.0

## Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

## License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.

## Changelog

### 1.0.0 (2025-09-12)
- Initial release
- Support for all major YouTube URL formats
- Multiple thumbnail quality options
- Optional URL verification
- Batch processing capabilities
- Command-line interface