What were the initial features available on YouTube?

When YouTube was first launched in February 2005, it offered a set of basic features that laid the groundwork for its development into a major video-sharing platform. The initial features included:

### **1. **Video Upload and Playback:**
   - **Basic Video Upload**: Users could upload video files from their computers to the platform. The upload process was straightforward, allowing users to share their videos with others.
   - **Simple Video Playback**: The video player was basic, with essential controls for play, pause, and volume. It supported streaming video, which was a relatively new feature at the time.

### **2. **Search Functionality:**
   - **Search Bar**: Users could search for videos using keywords. This feature allowed viewers to find content based on titles, descriptions, and tags.

### **3. **Video Categories and Tags:**
   - **Basic Categories**: Videos could be categorized into broad groups to help users browse and discover content. Categories helped organize the growing library of videos.
   - **Tags**: Users could add tags to their videos, which helped with search and discovery by associating videos with relevant keywords.

### **4. **Channel Pages:**
   - **User Channels**: Each user had a channel page where their uploaded videos were listed. This page provided a simple way to access a user's content and view their video library.
   - **Profile Information**: Basic user profile information was displayed, including the username and a list of uploaded videos.

### **5. **Comments and Ratings:**
   - **Commenting**: Users could leave comments on videos, allowing for interaction and discussion. Comments were displayed below the video player.
   - **Ratings**: A thumbs-up/thumbs-down rating system was available, letting users rate videos and provide feedback on their quality or content.

### **6. **Video Embedding:**
   - **Embedding Code**: YouTube allowed users to embed videos on other websites and blogs using a provided HTML code snippet. This feature helped spread videos beyond the YouTube platform and contributed to the viral potential of content.

### **7. **Subscriptions:**
   - **Subscribe to Channels**: Users could subscribe to their favorite channels to receive updates when new videos were uploaded. This feature helped users keep track of content from specific creators.

### **8. **Basic Video Management:**
   - **Video Management**: Users had basic tools to manage their uploaded videos, including options to delete or edit video information.

### **9. **Playback Quality:**
   - **Standard Quality**: The initial video playback quality was relatively low by today's standards, with videos streamed in standard definition (SD) or lower resolution.

### **10. **User Interface:**
   - **Simple Navigation**: The interface was designed for ease of use, with a simple layout that included a navigation bar, video thumbnails, and basic search functionality.

These initial features were fundamental in establishing YouTube as a video-sharing platform. Over time, the platform has evolved significantly, adding advanced features such as HD and 4K video playback, live streaming, sophisticated recommendation algorithms, and extensive content monetization options.