YouTube Transcript MCP Server
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| YT_MCP_MODE | No | Operating mode: 'standalone' (uses youtube-transcript-api directly) or 'backend' (connects to a running transcript service). | standalone |
| YT_MCP_TRANSPORT | No | Transport protocol to use: 'stdio' or 'streamable-http'. | stdio |
| YT_MCP_BACKEND_URL | No | Backend service URL, used when YT_MCP_MODE is set to 'backend'. | http://localhost:8300 |
| YT_MCP_CACHE_MAX_SIZE | No | Maximum number of entries allowed in the cache. | 100 |
| YT_MCP_BACKEND_API_KEY | No | API key for backend, used when YT_MCP_MODE is set to 'backend'. | |
| YT_MCP_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS | No | Cache Time-To-Live in seconds. | 3600 |
| YT_MCP_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE | No | Maximum number of requests allowed per minute. | 30 |
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": false
} |
| prompts | {
"listChanged": false
} |
| resources | {
"subscribe": false,
"listChanged": false
} |
| experimental | {} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| get_transcriptA | Get the full transcript of a YouTube video in the specified language and format. |
| search_transcriptA | Search for keywords or phrases in a YouTube video transcript and return matching segments with timestamps. |
| get_transcript_summaryA | Get a transcript organized into time-based chunks for easier analysis of long videos. |
| batch_transcriptsA | Get transcripts for multiple YouTube videos in a single request (max 10 videos). |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| summarize_video | Generate a comprehensive summary of a YouTube video from its transcript. |
| compare_videos | Compare the content of two YouTube videos side by side. |
| find_key_moments | Find and analyze key moments in a video related to a specific topic. |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| help_resource | Usage guide for the YouTube Transcript MCP server with examples for all tools. |
TDQS
Scored across 4 tools
Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose: batch_transcripts handles multiple videos, get_transcript retrieves a full transcript, get_transcript_summary provides chunked analysis, and search_transcript finds specific segments. There is no overlap in functionality, making tool selection straightforward for an agent.
All tool names follow a consistent verb_noun pattern (e.g., get_transcript, search_transcript) with clear, descriptive verbs. The naming is uniform across all four tools, enhancing readability and predictability.
With 4 tools, the server is well-scoped for its purpose of YouTube transcript retrieval and analysis. Each tool serves a unique and essential function, avoiding bloat while covering core operations like retrieval, summarization, and search.
The tool set provides complete coverage for the domain: it supports single and batch transcript retrieval, summarization for long videos, and search capabilities. There are no obvious gaps, as all key workflows for transcript analysis are addressed without dead ends.