A characteristic as soon as accessible on the YouTube platform allowed creators so as to add interactive components instantly onto their movies. These components, usually rectangular containers, appeared over the video content material and will hyperlink to different movies, channels, playlists, web sites, or immediate viewers to subscribe. A standard utility was to direct viewers to a associated video on the finish of the present one or to supply extra context on a particular level within the video.
These interactive overlays supplied a direct approach for video producers to information viewers engagement and enhance viewership throughout their channel. They served as a fundamental call-to-action system inside the video itself, encouraging viewers to take particular steps. Although discontinued by YouTube, the characteristic performed a major position in shaping person expertise and content material navigation within the early days of the platform. The retirement stemmed from the rising prevalence of cell viewing, the place these overlays had been much less efficient, and the introduction of newer, extra adaptable interactive options.