search_channels
Search YouTube channels by query, returning names, descriptions, thumbnails, and URLs with cached results to reduce API usage.
Instructions
Search for YouTube channels by query string.
Searches YouTube and returns channel results with names, descriptions,
thumbnails, and URLs. Results are cached for 6 hours to minimize
API quota usage.
Args:
query: Search query (e.g., "Vimjoyer", "NixOS channels").
max_results: Maximum results to return (1-50, default 5).
Returns:
List of channel results with channel_id, title, description,
url, thumbnail, and published_at.
Example:
>>> results = _search_channels("vimjoyer", 5)
>>> print(results[0]["title"])
Note:
- Search costs 100 quota units per request
- Results cached for 6 hours in youtube.search namespace
- Use get_cached_result() to paginate large result setsCaching Behavior:
Parameters that accept reference strings can accept a
ref_idfrom a previous tool callLarge results return ref_id + preview; use get_cached_result to paginate
All responses include ref_id for future reference
Ref input compatibility: Support depends on the tool's input schema/validation. Some strictly typed parameters may reject string ref_ids before resolution.
Full retrieval: Use get_cached_result(ref_id, full=True) to get the complete value.
Preview Size: server default. Override per-call with get_cached_result(ref_id, max_size=...).
Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| query | Yes | ||
| max_results | No |
Output Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||