youtube with timestamp: Create Links to Specific Moments

Table of content

Understanding YouTube Video URLs

To create a link that directs viewers to a specific moment in a YouTube video, you first need to understand the structure of a YouTube video URL. A typical YouTube video URL looks like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID. The VIDEO_ID is a unique identifier for each video. By modifying this URL, you can create a link that starts the video at a specific time.

Adding Parameters to the URL

To indicate that you are adding parameters to the URL, you need to append a question mark (?) at the end of the URL. This signals that what follows will be additional information that modifies how the video plays.

Formatting the Timestamp

The next step in creating a youtube with timestamp link is to specify the time where you want the video to start. This is done using the parameter t=. The time should be formatted as follows:

Xh - Number of hours (optional)
Ym - Number of minutes (optional)
Zs - Number of seconds (optional)

For example, if you want the video to start at 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 0 seconds, you would format it as ?t=1h6m0s.

Examples of Timestamp Formats

Here are some examples of how to format the timestamp for different scenarios:

1 hour, 6 minutes, and 0 seconds: ?t=1h6m0s
1 minute and 10 seconds: ?t=1m10s
70 seconds: ?t=70s

Creating the Complete Link

To create the complete link for your youtube with timestamp, combine the original video URL with the timestamp parameter. For example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=1h6m0s

Testing Your Timestamp Link

Before sharing your link, it’s important to test it. Paste the complete link into your browser's address bar and hit enter. Ensure that the video starts playing at the specified time. If it does, you have successfully created a youtube with timestamp link!

Sharing Your Timestamp Link

Once you have confirmed that your timestamp link works, you can share it with others. This is particularly useful for directing viewers to specific moments in a video, making it easier for them to find the content they are interested in.