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.
This can be done through the youtube player API:
http://jsfiddle.net/7Gznb/
Working example:
<div id="player"></div>
<script src="http://www.youtube.com/player_api"></script>
<script>
// create youtube player
var player;
function onYouTubePlayerAPIReady() {
player = new YT.Player('player', {
width: '640',
height: '390',
videoId: '0Bmhjf0rKe8',
events: {
onReady: onPlayerReady,
onStateChange: onPlayerStateChange
}
});
}
// autoplay video
function onPlayerReady(event) {
event.target.playVideo();
}
// when video ends
function onPlayerStateChange(event) {
if(event.data === 0) {
alert('done');
}
}
</script>
Best Answer
You can make YouTube videos responsive with CSS. Wrap the iframe in a div with the class of "videowrapper" and apply the following styles:
The .videowrapper div should be inside a responsive element. The padding on the .videowrapper is necessary to keep the video from collapsing. You may have to tweak the numbers depending upon your layout.