HackerTube / Video
Will YouTube Ever Run Out Of Video IDs?
Tom Scott
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.
HN links it whenever IDs, base64 or random identifier space come up, as a short and pleasant explainer.
7 Hacker News mentions · 2021–2026