Turn Your Video Into a URL

Video files are known for their relatively large file sizes compared to other digital assets, making video sharing cumbersome and often leading to several other performance issues among internet users. However, one of the most effective ways to simplify video sharing is through video links or URLs.

A video URL has many advantages in video sharing. First, it allows users to access and watch a video without having to download it first. Secondly, by utilizing video sharing platforms like YouTube, you can minimize the costs associated with storing videos with large file sizes on your own server.

This article will walk you through the process of turning your video into a URL using Cloudinary’s suite of video management tools, explaining why this approach is beneficial and answering some common questions about the process.

Converting Your Video Into URL

Video URLs can make a significant difference in how businesses use their videos. They provide a simple way to share video content across multiple platforms, from social media to email campaigns.

These URLs help track viewership analytics, enabling businesses to understand their audience better. With insights like watch times and engagement rates, companies can fine-tune their strategies for maximum impact.

Let’s check out how you can create video URLs with a powerful platform like Cloudinary.

Upload Videos Using the Media Library UI

For this example, we’ll show you how to use Cloudinary’s Media Library UI, which is the most convenient method for uploading videos. You don’t need to integrate or configure anything, all you need to do is simply access your Cloudinary account, navigate to the Media Library tab, and upload your videos by dragging and dropping them into the designated area.

Step 1: Upload Your Video to Cloudinary

In your Cloudinary dashboard, navigate to the Media Library and click on Upload on the top right of the screen. You’ll see a modal as shown below to upload a video. You can either drag and drop the video or use any of the options in the modal to upload the video.

Step 2: Get the Video URL

Once the video is uploaded, navigate to the Assets tab and click on the uploaded video to copy the video URL as shown below:

Finally, you can then use the video URL to embed the video into your website or blog with an <iframe> tag or video widget:

Converting your uploaded videos into URLs with Cloudinary takes just two simple steps. In the following section, we’ll explore how to achieve this programmatically using the Cloudinary Python SDK.

Upload Videos Using the Python SDK

Each Cloudinary programming language SDK has a URL helper method (for example, cloudinary.utils.cloudinary_url in the Python SDK) that automatically generates the video source URL after it’s been uploaded. This method can be useful when you’re working with many videos that need to be processed in a batch.

Here’s a complete code in Python for uploading a video to Cloudinary and generating a shareable URL using Cloudinary’s Python SDK:

import cloudinary
import cloudinary.uploader
import cloudinary.utils

# Configure Cloudinary
cloudinary.config(
    cloud_name="YOU_CLOUD_NAME",  
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
    api_secret="YOUR_API_SECRET"
)

def upload_video_and_generate_url(video_path):
    try:
        # Upload the video to Cloudinary
        upload_response = cloudinary.uploader.upload(
            video_path,
            resource_type="video"  # Specify that the file is a video
        )


        public_id = upload_response.get("public_id")


        ## Generate a URL for the uploaded video
        video_url, options = cloudinary.utils.cloudinary_url(
            public_id,
            resource_type="video"
        )


        print("Video uploaded successfully!")
        print("Video URL:", video_url)
        return video_url
    except Exception as e:
        print("An error occurred while uploading the video:", str(e))
        return None

video_path = "sample_video.mp4"
upload_video_and_generate_url(video_path) 

Getting Started: Turn Your Video into a URL Now

By leveraging the endless possibilities with Cloudinary, you can easily transform your videos into easily shareable URLs, enhancing your video sharing workflow and maximizing the impact of your video content. Ready to get started? Sign up for a free Cloudinary account today and unlock the full potential of your video content!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I create a direct link to a video for sharing?

With Cloudinary, you can automatically generate a unique URL for every video you upload. This URL can be directly shared with anyone you wish.

How do I embed a video link into a website using a URL?

The simplest way is to use the HTML <iframe> tag to embed the generated URL into your website. In addition, Cloudinary’s JavaScript-based HTML5 video player delivers uploaded videos optimally. Besides being bundled with many valuable customization and integration capabilities, the video player is monetization and analytics ready, fully responsive for any device or screen size, and is integrated with Cloudinary’s video-delivery and manipulation capabilities.

How can I convert a local video file into a shareable URL without uploading it to a public platform?

Cloudinary offers secure and private upload options. You can upload your videos directly from your local device without making them publicly accessible.