This page explains how to use the YouTube Data API (v3) to perform functions
related to retrieving and updating channel data. A `channel` resource includes
playlist IDs that identify a channel's uploaded and liked videos. To fetch this
information when calling the `channels.list` method, make sure the
[`part`](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/reference/rest/v3/channels/list.md.txt#part) parameter value
includes the `contentDetails` resource part.

## Retrieve information about a channel

Call the [`channels.list`](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/reference/rest/v3/channels/list.md.txt) method
to retrieve information about a particular channel. There are a few ways to
identify the channel:

- Set the
  `mine`
  parameter value to `true` to retrieve information for the
  authenticated user's YouTube channel. Your request must be authorized using
  OAuth 2.0.

  ```
  https://developers.google.com/apis-explorer/#p/youtube/v3/youtube.channels.list?
          part=snippet,contentDetails,brandingSettings
          &mine=true
  ```
- Set the `forUsername` parameter to a YouTube username to retrieve information for the channel associated with that username. This example sets the `forUsername` parameter value to `Google` to retrieve information for Google's official YouTube channel.

  ```
  https://developers.google.com/apis-explorer/#p/youtube/v3/youtube.channels.list?
          part=snippet,contentDetails
          &forUsername=Google
  ```
- Set the `id` parameter to the YouTube channel ID that uniquely identifies the channel for which you are retrieving information. This example sets the `id` parameter to `UCK8sQmJBp8GCxrOtXWBpyEA`, which also identifies Google's official YouTube channel.

  ```
  https://developers.google.com/apis-explorer/#p/youtube/v3/youtube.channels.list?
          part=snippet,contentDetails
          &id=UCK8sQmJBp8GCxrOtXWBpyEA
  ```

## Set a channel's branding information

This example updates a channel's branding options. The example has two steps:

- **Step 1: Retrieve the channel's branding options**

  Call the `channels.list` method and set the `part` parameter value to `brandingSettings` and the `mine` parameter value to `true`.

  ```
  https://developers.google.com/apis-explorer/#p/youtube/v3/youtube.channels.list?
          part=brandingSettings
          &mine=true
  ```

  Your application could display the retrieved settings, allowing the user to modify the settings to update.
- **Step 2: Update the channel's branding options**

  Call the `channels.list` method and set the following values:
  - Set the `id` property to the channel's unique YouTube channel ID. The ID can be extracted from the API response in step 1.
  - Set the `part` parameter value to `brandingSettings`.

  The following link to the APIs Explorer creates a `channel`
  resource with these branding settings:

  ```
  {
    "id": "CHANNEL_ID",
    "brandingSettings": {
      "channel": {
        "description": "A great channel to be enjoyed by all.",
        "moderateComments": true,
        "showRelatedChannels": true,
        "showBrowseView": true,
        "featuredChannelsTitle": "Featured Channel Stuff",
        "featuredChannelsUrls": [
          "UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw",
          "UCBR8-60-B28hp2BmDPdntcQ",
          "UCK8sQmJBp8GCxrOtXWBpyEA"
        ],
        "profileColor": "#006600"
      }
    }
  }
  ```

  To complete the request in the APIs Explorer, you need to set the `id` property's value to the channel ID of the authenticated user's channel. You should also set the image properties to match your current settings.

  ```
  https://developers.google.com/apis-explorer/#p/youtube/v3/youtube.videos.update?
          part=brandingSettings
  ```

## Manage channel sections


The API supports the [channelSections.list](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/reference/rest/v3/channelSections/list.md.txt), [channelSections.insert](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/reference/rest/v3/channelSections/insert.md.txt), [channelSections.update](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/reference/rest/v3/channelSections/update.md.txt), and [channelSections.delete](https://developers.google.com/youtube/data/reference/rest/v3/channelSections/delete.md.txt) methods for managing channel sections. A channel section is a set of videos that are featured on a channel. For example, a section could include a channel's latest uploads, most popular uploads, or videos from one or more playlists.

The example below retrieves the channel sections for Google's official YouTube channel. The request calls the `channelSections.list` method and sets the `channelId` parameter value to `UCK8sQmJBp8GCxrOtXWBpyEA`, which is the channel ID for Google's channel.

```
https://developers.google.com/apis-explorer/#p/youtube/v3/youtube.channelSections.list?
part=snippet,contentDetails
&channelId=UCK8sQmJBp8GCxrOtXWBpyEA
```

This request requires authorization if, instead of using the `channelId` parameter, you set the `mine` parameter value to `true`. That parameter indicates that you are retrieving channel sections for the currently authenticated user's channel.

<br />

## Upload and set a watermark image for a channel


You can call the `watermarks.set` method to upload a watermark image and set it for a channel. The image then displays during playbacks of the specified channel's videos. You can also specify a target channel to which the image will link as well as timing details that determine when the watermark appears and how long it is visible.

The `watermarks.unset` method deletes a channel's watermark image.

Unfortunately, this query cannot be tested using the APIs Explorer because the APIs Explorer does not support the ability to upload media files, which is a requirement for this method.

<br />