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Will YouTube Ever Run Out Of Video IDs?

Tom Scott · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Software (other)Internet culture & memes

What it is

Tom Scott explains YouTube's 11-character video IDs, which are base-64 encoded 64-bit numbers, and whether YouTube could ever run out of them. It covers counting systems and base 64 briefly.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN links it whenever IDs, base64 or random identifier space come up, as a short and pleasant explainer.

  • 1 people recommended it
  • 1 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “is such an uplifting thing to watch.”

    Tom Scott's short explanation of YouTube IDs

    apocalyptic0n3, 2021-02 · Recommendation · in “YouTubers have to declare ads. Why doesn't anyone else? [video]”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: base64, youtube, video ids, id space, tom scott

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