Software or online services facilitating the acquisition of video content from the YouTube platform in the MPEG-4 (MP4) file format are prevalent. These tools enable users to save YouTube videos locally to their devices. An example would be an application that takes a YouTube URL as input and outputs a corresponding MP4 file.
The utility of these resources lies in the ability to access and view video content offline, conserve mobile data usage, and create personal archives. Historically, limitations in internet connectivity and data costs drove demand. The ability to retain content indefinitely also provides a safeguard against potential video removal from the platform.