About

This utility enables the creation of high-precision deep links for YouTube content, leveraging the platform's query parameter logic to dictate playback behavior. Unlike standard sharing options, this tool allows for the specification of both start and end boundary conditions, essential for curating specific video segments.

By manipulating the t (time) and start/end parameters, users can direct audiences to exact moments, increasing engagement and relevance. This is particularly effective for educational citations, content marketing, and video SEO.

The tool parses standard Standard URLs (watch?v=), Short URLs (youtu.be/), and Embed paths, normalizing them into a manipulatable ID format before regenerating the desired output syntax.

Formulas

The core logic converts human-readable timestamps (Hours, Minutes, Seconds) into a scalar value (Total Seconds) required by the API.

{

Ttotal = (h × 3600) + (m × 60) + sWhere h, m, s ∈ Z+

For Embeds, the duration window Δt is defined as:

Δt = tend - tstart

Reference Data

Parameter	Type	Syntax	Function
Time (Deep Link)	Query String	?t=X	Starts playback at X seconds (or XmYs). Compatible with standard and short links.
Start (Embed)	Query String	?start=X	Sets the start boundary for embedded players (iframe). Value must be in seconds.
End (Embed)	Query String	?end=Y	Sets the stop boundary for embedded players. Playback halts automatically at Y.
Autoplay	Boolean (0/1)	?autoplay=1	Forces the video to begin buffering and playing immediately upon load.
Rel (Related)	Boolean (0/1)	?rel=0	Limits recommended videos at the end to the same channel (deprecated behavior varies by region).
Controls	Boolean (0/1)	?controls=0	Hides the player interface (play bar, volume). Useful for background video.
Mute	Boolean (0/1)	?mute=1	Starts the video with no audio. Required for most autoplay scenarios in modern browsers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mobile deep-linking depends on the user's OS and app settings. If the YouTube app intercepts the link, it usually respects the timestamp. However, mobile browsers sometimes ignore the "?t=" parameter if the video hasn't buffered. Using the "youtu.be" short format often yields better consistency on mobile devices.

No. The standard YouTube player (watch page) only supports a start time via the "?t=" parameter. The "end" parameter is strictly for the Embedded Player (iframe). To share a clip that stops automatically, you must use the Embed URL format or a third-party clipping service.

Yes. YouTube Shorts URLs are technically standard video IDs. This tool extracts the ID from "youtube.com/shorts/ID" and treats it like a regular video, allowing you to generate timestamped links which will open in the standard player view.

YouTube's player API accepts integers for the "start" and "end" parameters (seconds). While the URL parameter "?t=" can theoretically accept decimals, the player often rounds to the nearest whole second. This tool outputs integer seconds to ensure maximum compatibility.