Video Description

What is a video description on YouTube?

A video description on YouTube is the text below every video that tells viewers and the algorithm what the video is about. It holds up to 5,000 characters, and YouTube matches search terms against this text when ranking results.

Why the description matters

YouTube is one of the largest search engines in the world: search terms are matched with the video and the text in the description, so well-chosen keywords bring extra views from search. Viewers only see the first few lines before they click Show more on desktop or more on mobile, so the most important information belongs at the top. The description works alongside the title and thumbnail that drive your CTR.

How to write and edit a description

To edit a description, sign in to YouTube Studio, select Content from the left menu, click the video's title or thumbnail, make your changes and save.

• Give each video a unique description — it is easier to find through search and stands out from similar videos.

• Pick 1–2 main keywords and feature them prominently in both the description and the title.

• Find popular keywords with the Research tab in YouTube Analytics or Google Ads Keyword Planner.

• Stay within the 5,000-character limit; you can bold, italicize, or strikethrough text.

• Set a default description so basic channel info fills in automatically on every upload.

What to add to a description

Beyond a summary of the video, descriptions commonly hold timestamps for chapters in longer videos, links to playlists, channel mentions crediting collaborators, and channel profile links. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide to adding timestamps.

Descriptions also support corrections: after any chapters, add a line with Correction: or Corrections: (in English, regardless of the video language), then the timestamp and explanation on a separate line. Viewers will get a View Corrections info card. The feature is unavailable if the channel has active strikes.