YouTube does not allow users to download videos, but sometimes you want to download a video of some music or parody for future viewing. There are several ways of downloading videos from YouTube and other video-sharing sites.

Use DownloadHelper Firefox add-on

Firefox Web browser always comes handy when you need to extend its functionality. The DownloadHelper add-on for Firefox browser is compatible with a large number of video-sharing websites, including YouTube. When you visit a site that has videos, DownloadHelper will give you a small icon on the webpage. You can click this icon or the icon in the Firefox Navigation Toolbar and download the video. If the YouTube video has a High Quality video available, it will also give you the option of downloading the better-quality video.


DownloadHelper Firefox Addon Page

Use Greasemonkey scripts

Greasemonkey is a Firefox add-on that allows users to easily customize the Web browser by creating your own scripts or installing from a huge repository of Greasemonkey scripts on Userscripts.org. If you don't have Greasemonkey installed on your Firefox, get that first.

The scripts on Userscripts.org are also compatible wit several other web browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera and safari. Those using Internet Explorer 7 can install IE7Pro add-on to enable Greasemonkey-like script platform. Safari users can install GreaseKit add-on for enabling a script platform for Userscripts.org scripts.

YouTube Video Download for Greasemonkey

YouTube Video Download for Greasemoneky script adds a Download tab under the video, and allows the user to download the video in several formats: normal FLV video, high-quality MPEG video and other formats for mobile phones. The download tab integrates effortlessly in the YouTube video page, making it had to see it not as part of the website's original plan.


YouTube Video Download for Greasemoneky

Download YouTube Videos as MP4

Download YouTube Videos as MP4 is another Greasemonkey script that allows users to download YouTube videos as low-quality FLV video or better-quality MP4 video. This script, which is licensed under an MIT licence, downloadas videos directly from YouTube.