How to get number of video views with YouTube API?

Question

The question is very simple. How to get number of video views with YouTube API?

The task is simple but I would like to use that query on large number of videos very often. Is there any way to call their Youtube API and get it? (something like facebook http://api.facebook.com/restserver.php?method=links.getStats&urls=developers.facebook.com)

Answer 1

This probably is not what you want but you could scrap the page for the information using the following:

document.getElementsByClassName('watch-view-count')[0].innerHTML

Answer 2

I think, the easiest way, is to get video info in JSON format. If you want to use JavaScript, try jQuery.getJSON()... But I prefer PHP:

<?php
$video_ID = 'your-video-ID';
$JSON = file_get_contents("http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/videos?q={$video_ID}&amp;alt=json");
$JSON_Data = json_decode($JSON);
$views = $JSON_Data->{'feed'}->{'entry'}[0]->{'yt$statistics'}->{'viewCount'};
echo $views;
?>

Answer 3

look at yt:statistics tag. It provides viewCount, videoWatchCount, favoriteCount etc.