Each YouTube video has four generated images. They are predictably formatted as follows:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/0.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/1.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/2.jpg
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/3.jpg
The first one in the list is a full size image and others are thumbnail images. The default thumbnail image (i.e., one of 1.jpg
, 2.jpg
, 3.jpg
) is:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/default.jpg
For the high quality version of the thumbnail use a URL similar to this:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/hqdefault.jpg
There is also a medium quality version of the thumbnail, using a URL similar to the HQ:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/mqdefault.jpg
For the standard definition version of the thumbnail, use a URL similar to this:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/sddefault.jpg
For the maximum resolution version of the thumbnail use a URL similar to this:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/maxresdefault.jpg
All of the above URLs are available over HTTP too. Additionally, the slightly shorter hostname i3.ytimg.com
works in place of img.youtube.com
in the example URLs above.
Alternatively, you can use the YouTube Data API (v3) to get thumbnail images.
Try setting the height of the html element to 100% as well.
html,
body {
height: 100%;
}
Body looks to its parent (HTML) for how to scale the dynamic property, so the HTML element needs to have its height set as well.
However the content of body will probably need to change dynamically.
Setting min-height to 100% will accomplish this goal.
html {
height: 100%;
}
body {
min-height: 100%;
}
Best Answer
This is pretty old but people may still need help here. I needed this too so have created a Pen of my solution which should help - http://codepen.io/MikeMooreDev/pen/QEEPMv
The example shows two versions of the same video, one as standard and the second cropped and centrally aligned to fit the size of the full parent element without showing the hideous black bars.
You need to use some javascript to calculate a new width for the video but it's really easy if you know the aspect ratio.
HTML
CSS - The height and width o the videoWrapper can be anything, they can be percentages if you so wish
jQuery
This can also be triggered on resize to ensure it remains responsive. The easiest (probably not most efficient) way to do this is with the following.