# FlashData

> Google Search, YouTube data and media downloads through one API.

## Start here

- [Human and agent quickstart](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/quickstart/reference.md): Console signup and a first result, application setup, or a task to give your agent.
Every documentation page has an English or Chinese /reference.md URL. Markdown links stay in Markdown, with stable section anchors and expanded guide code tabs. Source references include Python and Bash/cURL requests. You can also request a documentation page with Accept: text/markdown. HTML remains the default for browsers. Choose a task guide for decisions and steps, an example for input and output, and the API reference for exact fields.

- [Choose an interface and complete a task](https://flashdata.dev/agents.md): CLI for terminal workflows, MCP for host tools, SDK or HTTP for application runtime.
- [Authentication, trial, claiming and credential handoff](https://flashdata.dev/auth.md): Reuse existing access first; otherwise complete the first task with temporary access and let the owner claim it.
- [Website documentation](https://flashdata.dev/docs): Browse setup, guides, API references, integrations, examples and releases.

Use FlashData for Google results and YouTube discovery, metadata, existing captions and media delivery. Use your host's page reader for webpage contents and your model for summaries. Source permissions differ between temporary API keys, owner keys and MCP OAuth; check the access guide.

Public documentation index. Prices and account capacity vary; consult current pricing and authenticated account limits. FlashData retrieves existing captions, and download media is delivered to customer storage.

Query and job endpoints support Accept: application/json or text/plain, with JSON as the default. X-Respond-With: markdown selects Markdown only for realtime and completed-result content. Errors retain structured JSON. See the response-format guide for scope and request/response examples.

## Languages

- [English](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference.md)
- [简体中文](https://flashdata.dev/zh/docs/reference.md)
- [Français](https://flashdata.dev/fr/docs/reference.md)
- [Español](https://flashdata.dev/es/docs/reference.md)
- [Português](https://flashdata.dev/pt/docs/reference.md)
- [Italiano](https://flashdata.dev/it/docs/reference.md)
- [Deutsch](https://flashdata.dev/de/docs/reference.md)
- [日本語](https://flashdata.dev/ja/docs/reference.md)
- [Nederlands](https://flashdata.dev/nl/docs/reference.md)
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://flashdata.dev/id/docs/reference.md)
- [한국어](https://flashdata.dev/ko/docs/reference.md)
- [العربية](https://flashdata.dev/ar/docs/reference.md)
- [Bahasa Melayu](https://flashdata.dev/ms/docs/reference.md)
- [Polski](https://flashdata.dev/pl/docs/reference.md)
- [हिन्दी](https://flashdata.dev/hi/docs/reference.md)
- [Русский](https://flashdata.dev/ru/docs/reference.md)
- [Tiếng Việt](https://flashdata.dev/vi/docs/reference.md)
- [Türkçe](https://flashdata.dev/tr/docs/reference.md)
- [Українська](https://flashdata.dev/uk/docs/reference.md)
- [ไทย](https://flashdata.dev/th/docs/reference.md)

## Documentation sections

- [Get started](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference.md): Search Google, retrieve YouTube data, and download video or audio. Choose one path to your first result. [HTML](https://flashdata.dev/docs)
- [Guides](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/reference.md): Build search features, research with an agent, or collect video data and media. Start with the result you need. [HTML](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides)
- [API reference](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference/reference.md): Request parameters, response schemas and working examples for every source. [HTML](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference)
- [Integrations](https://flashdata.dev/docs/integrations/reference.md): Connect an agent, call FlashData from your application, or build a tool for your model. [HTML](https://flashdata.dev/docs/integrations)
- [Examples](https://flashdata.dev/docs/examples/reference.md): Run a focused recipe with a complete request and a saved output file. [HTML](https://flashdata.dev/docs/examples)
- [Changelog](https://flashdata.dev/docs/changelog/reference.md): Find the versions used in these guides and the official release notes, packages and skill updates. [HTML](https://flashdata.dev/docs/changelog)

## API, SDKs and agent tools

- [HTTP API quickstart](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/http-quickstart/reference.md): Direct HTTP requests from any language.
- [Python SDK](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-python/reference.md): Install the published flashdata package; synchronous and async first requests.
- [TypeScript SDK](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-typescript/reference.md): Install @flashdata-dev/sdk; server-side TypeScript and JavaScript examples.
- [MCP setup](https://flashdata.dev/docs/integrations/mcp-clients/reference.md): Hosted Streamable HTTP with OAuth or API key; local stdio with the published npm package.
- [Official MCP server](https://github.com/flashdatadev/flashdata-mcp): Server source, installation and tool schemas.
- [Agent skills](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/agent-skill/reference.md): Run flashdata setup to install 16 bundled CLI skills and configure access.
- [Official skills repository](https://github.com/flashdatadev/flashdata-skills): CLI task skills and the separate optional flashdata-mcp skill. Install whole skill directories, including supporting files.
- [Standalone FlashData CLI](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-cli/reference.md): Public executable downloads, profiles, trial/claim commands and recurring-run recovery.
- [FlashData Go SDK](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-go/reference.md): Tagged installation and a typed application example.
- [CLI v1.2.1 downloads](https://github.com/flashdatadev/flashdata-cli/releases/tag/v1.2.1): Linux x64/ARM64, macOS Intel/Apple Silicon and Windows x64. No Node.js or Python runtime required.
- [Go SDK v1.1.0 release](https://github.com/flashdatadev/flashdata-go/releases/tag/v1.1.0): Install with `go get github.com/flashdatadev/flashdata-go@v1.1.0` (Go 1.25+).

## Product and account information

- [About FlashData](https://flashdata.dev/about)
- [YouTube video datasets: samples, managed delivery and API pipelines](https://flashdata.dev/products/youtube-video-datasets)
- [Video dataset service facts (Markdown)](https://flashdata.dev/products/youtube-video-datasets/reference.md)
- [Pricing and plan conditions](https://flashdata.dev/pricing)
- [MCP integration](https://flashdata.dev/docs/mcp/reference.md)
- [Customer OpenAPI](https://flashdata.dev/docs/openapi.json)
- [Errors and status codes](https://flashdata.dev/docs/errors/reference.md)

## Source references

- [Google Search](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_search/reference.md)
- [Google Images](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_images/reference.md)
- [Google News](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_news/reference.md)
- [Google Shopping](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_shopping/reference.md)
- [Google Videos](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_videos/reference.md)
- [Google Places](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_places/reference.md)
- [YouTube Search](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_search/reference.md)
- [YouTube Extended Search](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_search_extended/reference.md)
- [YouTube Video Metadata](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_metadata/reference.md)
- [YouTube Transcript](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_transcript/reference.md)
- [YouTube Captions](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_captions/reference.md)
- [YouTube Channel](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_channel/reference.md)
- [YouTube Suggestions](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_suggestions/reference.md)
- [YouTube Trainability](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_trainability/reference.md)
- [YouTube Download](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/youtube_download/reference.md)

## API basics and endpoint references

- [Management API](https://flashdata.dev/docs/api-reference/reference.md): Account, key, billing and job operations with authentication requirements and schemas.
- [Realtime and async](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference/realtime-and-async/reference.md): Get results in the response, or submit a job and retrieve them later. Choose how your application or agent waits for work.
- [Batch and bulk](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference/batch-and-bulk/reference.md): Choose Batch for independent queries with different inputs. Choose Bulk for a file of video IDs that all need the same operation.
- [Bulk processing API](https://flashdata.dev/docs/reference/bulk-processing/reference.md): Create and control file-based YouTube jobs, then retrieve their manifests and result parts.

## Task and setup guides

- [Quickstart](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/quickstart/reference.md): Run your first Google search and get structured results for your app or AI agent.
- [FlashData CLI](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-cli/reference.md): Search Google, retrieve YouTube data and deliver media from your terminal or AI agent. One executable; no Node.js or Python required.
- [Go SDK quickstart](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-go/reference.md): Install the Go SDK and run a typed Google Search request. Then try YouTube data with the same client.
- [Python SDK quickstart](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-python/reference.md): Install the Python SDK and print search results with a few lines of code. Includes synchronous and asyncio examples.
- [TypeScript & JavaScript SDK](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-typescript/reference.md): Install the SDK and run a search in Node.js. Choose TypeScript or JavaScript; keep API keys on the server.
- [Agent skills](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/agent-skill/reference.md): Give your agent ready-to-use workflows for Google Search, YouTube data and downloads.
- [Build an MCP client](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/mcp-custom-client/reference.md): Connect a Node.js application to FlashData, check access and save your first Google Search result.
- [Manage your FlashData skills](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/agent-skill-management/reference.md): Choose an installation location, verify the bundle and update or remove skills.
- [Automate with the FlashData CLI](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/cli-automation/reference.md): Validate a request, run it from a script and read separate result and error receipts.
- [SDK account checks and saved results](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/sdk-operations/reference.md): Check cost, keep a record of each attempt and read saved results without another API call.
- [Response formats](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/response-formats/reference.md): Choose structured JSON for your application or Markdown content for an AI agent. Control the response with two headers.
- [Async & batch requests](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/async-batch/reference.md): Run background work for an application or agent, resume from its saved job ID and collect every batch outcome.
- [Bulk file processing](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/bulk/reference.md): Process a file of video IDs, retrieve every result part and check coverage before importing the dataset into your application.
- [YouTube Download best practices](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/youtube-download-guide/reference.md): Choose the right media output, control what you download, and turn a completed job into a usable private file.
- [API quickstart](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/http-quickstart/reference.md): Call Google Search and YouTube APIs directly over HTTP. Send one request and read the JSON response; no SDK is required.
- [Agent trial and claiming](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/agent-onboarding/reference.md): Try a Google search before signup, then connect an owner account to keep using the same CLI profile.
- [Headers and authentication](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/headers-and-authentication/reference.md): Use the right host and credential, then verify access with one free request.
- [API key management](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/api-keys-and-permissions/reference.md): Create a key for your app or agent. Store it, check access and manage its lifecycle.
- [Credits and pricing](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/credits-and-billing/reference.md): See what a request costs, how far your balance goes and how to add credits.
- [Rate limits and usage](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/usage-and-limits/reference.md): Inspect account capacity, respond to rate limits and track completed work.
- [Save and reuse results](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/save-results/reference.md): Keep a result with its original input, source links and usage, then hand it to another process without another query.
- [Deploy FlashData workloads](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/production-deployment/reference.md): Run your app or agent's CLI tasks on Linux or Docker, then verify access and result reuse after a restart.
- [FAQ & troubleshooting](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/troubleshooting/reference.md): Check your access, fix a failed request or find an answer about using FlashData.
- [Build a media delivery pipeline](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/media-delivery-pipeline/reference.md): Download an MP4 to private S3 storage, resume after a restart and give your application access to the verified file.
- [Agent authentication options](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/agent-access/reference.md): Connect with an API key or MCP OAuth, verify access without a paid query, and reuse it for later tasks.
- [Run recurring agent tasks](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/recurring-tasks/reference.md): Reuse approved access, run one search per scheduled occurrence, and recover without accidentally submitting the same work again.
- [Recover an agent integration](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/agent-recovery/reference.md): Recover an interrupted CLI or MCP task using its saved run, job or result ID.
- [Prepare a YouTube summary with citations](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/youtube-summary/reference.md): Turn one video's existing captions into a saved evidence file, then ask your model for a summary with timestamp links.
- [YouTube Data best practices](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/youtube-data-guide/reference.md): Find relevant videos, select caption tracks and process new channel uploads without repeating work.
- [Add search to an application](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/search-in-an-app/reference.md): Build a working search form, keep the API key on your backend, and reuse the same search function in an agent tool.
- [Research with Google and YouTube](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/google-youtube-research/reference.md): Find web and video sources, collect a selected video's captions, and turn the evidence into a brief with traceable citations.
- [Google Search best practices](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/google-search-guide/reference.md): Improve relevance before adding more requests: choose focused queries, set the right context, and keep useful sources in rank order.
- [Create a daily research briefing](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/daily-research-briefing/reference.md): Track a focused topic, compare today's sources with a previous run, and write a short briefing with checked citations.
- [Enrich a list of YouTube videos](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/enrich-youtube-videos/reference.md): Add metadata to a playlist, reading list or application dataset while keeping your original record IDs and every outcome.

## Agent integrations

- [FlashData MCP](https://flashdata.dev/docs/integrations/mcp-clients/reference.md): Give your agent Google Search and YouTube tools. Connect your host, then ask for your first result.
- [Codex](https://flashdata.dev/docs/integrations/codex/reference.md): Give Codex Google Search and YouTube tools for coding and research.
- [OpenClaw](https://flashdata.dev/docs/integrations/openclaw/reference.md): Give your OpenClaw agent Google Search and YouTube tools for research and recurring briefings.

## Task examples

- [Search the web and save source links](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/web-search-recipe/reference.md): Run one Google search. Save unique source links in result order, together with the query and usage.
- [Find YouTube videos for a topic](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/youtube-search-recipe/reference.md): Find a small set of candidate videos. Save their details, watch links and IDs before choosing which ones to enrich.
- [Retrieve one video's metadata](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/video-metadata-recipe/reference.md): Turn a YouTube video ID into a saved record of its title, channel, duration and available counts. Keep the original response and usage alongside it.
- [Retrieve timestamped captions](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/timestamped-captions-recipe/reference.md): Save an existing YouTube caption track with its text, timing and language. Add a video link to each segment for citations in your app or agent's answer.
- [Download a video to your storage](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/download-video-recipe/reference.md): Deliver one MP4 to your Amazon S3 bucket, then retrieve and verify the file with Python or Bash.
- [Enrich a file of video IDs](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/bulk-metadata-recipe/reference.md): Turn a YouTube ID file into metadata JSON and CSV, with one outcome per video. Use Python or Bash with the FlashData CLI.

## Evaluation guides

- [FlashData vs running yt-dlp yourself](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-vs-yt-dlp/reference.md)
- [FlashData vs the official YouTube Data API](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/flashdata-vs-youtube-data-api/reference.md)
- [Measure API latency and download throughput](https://flashdata.dev/docs/guides/performance/reference.md)