YouTubeID for Python

Generate YouTube-style short IDs from numbers. Lightweight, fast, and reversible base62 encoder with optional obfuscation.

Other programming languages

• PHP: kvz/youtube-id
• Python: wow-apps/youtube-id-py
• TypeScript: wow-apps/youtube-id-ts
• Go: wow-apps/youtube-id-go

Features

• Lightweight - Zero dependencies, pure Python
• Fast - Simple base62 encoding/decoding
• Reversible - Encode and decode without data loss
• Obfuscation - Optional secure key to shuffle the dictionary
• Type-safe - Full type hints for IDE support

Installation

pip install youtube-id

Or with Poetry:

poetry add youtube-id

Quick Start

import yid_py

# Encode a number to a short string
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(12345)  # -> 'dnh'

# Decode back to number
yid_py.to_numeric('dnh')  # -> 12345

Usage

Basic Encoding/Decoding

import yid_py

# Number to alphanumeric
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(0)        # -> 'a'
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(61)       # -> 'Z'
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(62)       # -> 'ba'
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(12345)    # -> 'dnh'
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(999999)   # -> 'eGGf'

# Alphanumeric to number
yid_py.to_numeric('dnh')         # -> 12345

With Secure Key (Obfuscation)

Use a secure key to shuffle the dictionary, making IDs harder to predict:

import yid_py

# Without key
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(12345)                      # -> 'dnh'

# With secure key (different output)
yid_py.to_alphanumeric(12345, secure_key='secret') # -> 'UDJ'

# Decode with the same key
yid_py.to_numeric('UDJ', secure_key='secret')      # -> 12345

Case Transformation

from yid_py import to_alphanumeric, Transform

to_alphanumeric(12345, transform=Transform.UPPER)  # -> 'DNH'
to_alphanumeric(12345, transform=Transform.LOWER)  # -> 'dnh'

Encoder Factory

For repeated operations with the same settings, use the Encoder class:

import yid_py

# Create encoder with preset options
enc = yid_py.create(secure_key='my-secret', transform=yid_py.Transform.UPPER)

# Encode
enc.encode(12345)      # -> 'HQJ' (transformed for display)
enc.encode_raw(12345)  # -> 'hqj' (raw for storage/decoding)

# Decode
enc.decode('hqj')      # -> 12345

API Reference

Functions

to_alphanumeric(number, pad_up=0, secure_key=None, transform=Transform.NONE)

Convert a number to a short alphanumeric string.

to_numeric(alphanumeric, pad_up=0, secure_key=None)

Convert an alphanumeric string back to a number.

create(pad_up=0, secure_key=None, transform=Transform.NONE)

Create a reusable Encoder instance with preset options.

Classes

Encoder

Reusable encoder with preset options.

• encode(number) - Convert number to alphanumeric (with transform)
• encode_raw(number) - Convert number to alphanumeric (without transform)
• decode(alphanumeric) - Convert alphanumeric to number

Transform

Enum for case transformation:

• Transform.NONE - No transformation
• Transform.UPPER - Uppercase output
• Transform.LOWER - Lowercase output

Use Cases

• URL shorteners - Convert database IDs to short URLs
• Public IDs - Hide sequential database IDs from users
• Share codes - Generate readable codes for sharing
• Invite links - Create short invitation tokens

Performance

The library uses base62 encoding (a-z, 0-9, A-Z) which provides:

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please read our Contributing Guidelines and Code of Conduct.

# Clone and setup
git clone https://github.com/wow-apps/yid-py.git
cd yid-py
python3.10 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
poetry install --with dev

# Run tests
pytest --cov=yid_py

Credits

A Python port of the YouTube-style ID generator originally created by Kevin van Zonneveld and contributors.

License

MIT © Oleksii Samara, Kevin van Zonneveld