The action of acquiring video content from YouTube without incurring a monetary charge and utilizing an internet connection to facilitate the transfer. This typically involves using third-party websites or software to save video files to a local device. For instance, a user might employ a browser extension to retrieve an MP4 file of a music video from the platform for offline viewing.
The practice offers benefits such as the ability to view content without an active internet connection, potentially saving on data costs. Historically, the availability of this functionality has been influenced by evolving copyright laws, platform terms of service, and technological advancements in web scraping and media conversion. The ease with which users can archive or remix content, along with the potential for circumventing advertisements, are significant considerations.