The YouTube Content ID API is intended for use by YouTube content partners and is not accessible to all developers or to all YouTube users. Access requires a YouTube Content Manager account, and the API appears in the [Google Cloud console](https://console.cloud.google.com/) only when you sign in with a Google Account that is an active Content Manager user (allow 1 to 2 days after accepting an invitation for access to sync). If you still don't see the YouTube Content ID API after 2 days, contact your YouTube point of contact or partner support.

The YouTube Content ID API lets developers build applications that interact directly
with YouTube's rights management system. The system, which has an online
interface at [YouTube Studio](https://studio.youtube.com/), enables content
owners and administrators to provide YouTube with metadata, ownership
information, and policy information for their assets.

As a YouTube partner, you can use the API to create new assets and manage
existing assets. You can also retrieve information about your Content Manager
account, including a list of saved policies that you can apply to your claimed
content.

In addition, by combining the YouTube Content ID API with the
[YouTube Data API](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/getting-started.md.txt) and
[YouTube Player API](https://developers.google.com/youtube/iframe_api_reference.md.txt), you can enable your
application to also upload, manage, and play YouTube videos.

**Flexible and functional.** The following list shows some ways to use the
YouTube Content ID API in your application:

- Upload content references.
- Claim content and manage assets.

**Develop in the language of your choice.** The YouTube Content ID API is supported by
all popular programming languages, including Java, PHP, Python, .NET, Perl,
Ruby, and JavaScript.

## How do I start?

- To create an application, see [Make your first API request](https://developers.google.com/youtube/partner/first_request.md.txt).