YouTube Description Formatting Reference: Chapters, Tags, Rich Formatting, Links, and More
Experimenting with YouTube descriptions led me to uncover various formatting techniques through some light research. While this guide may not cover everything, it provides valuable insights context for tools like ChatGPT. Note that this is not an SEO-focused article, although the tips included can indirectly benefit your SEO efforts.
Table of Contents
01 Formatting Basics
02 Special Characters
03 Links
04 Tags
05 Timestamps
06 Default Description
07 Concluding Example
08 Feedback
01 Formatting Basics
YouTube supports limited markdown-like syntax for formatting descriptions. These formatting options may also be combined to enhance readability and visual appeal:
- Italics: Use underscores (
_italics_). - Bold: Use asterisks (
*bold*). - Strikethrough: Use hyphens (
-strikethrough-).
Note: There must be white space on the outsides of the formatting symbols for them to work.
Headings
You can structure your description using headings up to three levels deep:
#for Heading 1##for Heading 2###for Heading 3
Important Notes:
- Other markdown features, such as code blocks, are not supported.
- Unordered lists using
+,-, or*will render as standard bullet points. - HTML code cannot be embedded within descriptions.
- Descriptions are limited to 5,000 characters, including formatting syntax.
02 Special Characters
Enhance your descriptions with various special characters, including emojis and Unicode symbols (e.g., ►). These can improve visual appeal and help organize content effectively.
Example:
▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Additional Tips:
- Use Unicode text with different fonts to create unique styles. Tools like YouTube Text Formatter can help generate these styles.
- Emojis can be strategically placed to highlight sections or add visual interest.
03 Links
When adding links to your description, consider the following:
- Standard Links: Most URLs will appear as clickable links.
- Social Media Links: Links to platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Reddit may display as branded “pills.” (Note: Only Twitter links, not X links, yield the pill link)
- Hyperlinking Text: You cannot embed links within custom text; links must be pasted in full. Ex:
[Duck Duck Go](https://duckduckgo.com)will not produce linked text. - URL Truncation: Long URLs are automatically truncated with ellipses (e.g.,
http://tubertools.com/youtube-descrip...).
Example Visualization:
04 Tags
YouTube hashtags help viewers discover content on specific topics. You can add up to 15 hashtags in your description, with the first three typically displayed above your video title.
Example Hashtags:
05 Timestamps
Timestamps enhance viewer navigation by allowing quick access to different sections of your video. YouTube automatically creates timestamps when you use the MM:SS or M:SS format in your description.
Chapters
Chapters are a specialized form of timestamps that appear directly on the video’s progress bar, providing an organized overview of the content.
- Minimum Requirements:
- Include at least three timestamps with titles separated by new lines
- The first timestamp must be
00:00. - Each chapter should span at least 10 seconds.
2. Formatting Notes (From my experiments):
- Title and timestamp can be in any order
- YouTube autodetects most line formats so you can structure each row approximately however you like.
- Most non-alphanumeric characters will stripped from the left and right of the detected title. The left side tends to be more strict, not allowing for any special characters while the right side seems to permit special ascii characters (!, +, etc.) but not others (Like unicode symbols or emojis)
- Any non-edge character (even special unicode icons) in the title will be included
Functional Chapter List Examples:
00:00 Intro & Background (👋)
01:18 Money Stashes (💰)
02:25 Parka, Laptop, Flip Flops (🧥💻🩴)
04:02 Clothes (Pants & Shirts) (👖)
08:00 Clothes (Underwear & Socks) (🧦)
09:55 Wash Bag (🟢)
10:54 Journal & Misc (🗒️)
11:21 Decoy Wallet & Mask (🪪)
12:18 Chargers (⚡️)
13:50 Earplugs, Power Bank, AirPods (👂🔋🎧)
15:27 Day-to-Day Toiletries & Contact Card (🧴💳)
17:30 Day Bag (👜)
18:40 Shower Toiletries (🧽)
19:45 Final Bag (🎒)
20:20 Money Belt & Passport (🔒📕)
21:11 Backup Phone & AirTags (📱📍)Intro & Background (00:00)
Money Stashes (01:18)
Parka, Laptop, Flip Flops (02:25)
Clothes (Pants & Shirts) (04:02)
Clothes (Underwear & Socks) (08:00)
Wash Bag (09:55)
Journal & Misc (10:54)
Decoy Wallet & Mask (11:21)
Chargers (12:18)
Earplugs, Power Bank, AirPods (13:50)
Day-to-Day Toiletries & Contact Card (15:27)
Day Bag (17:30)
Shower Toiletries (18:40)
Final Bag (19:45)
Money Belt & Passport (20:20)
Backup Phone & AirTags (21:11)Despite looking very different, these will both be parsed correctly by the YouTube chapters feature.
Tips:
- Consistency: Use a consistent format for all chapters to ensure proper rendering.
- Multiple Lists: If multiple chapter lists are present, YouTube may prioritize the last one added.
- Update Delay: After updating your description, it may take a few minutes for chapters to appear.
Automatic Chapters:
YouTube can generate chapters automatically via Video Details > Automatic Chapters. However, any manually added chapters will overwrite these automatic ones.
06 Default Description
Your channel settings allow you to set a default description template that applies to all your videos. This can save time and ensure consistency across your content.
07 Concluding Example
Wrapping in everything from above the following text results in the following rendered YouTube Description and chapters:
Source:
Partially inspired by the One Bag community https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/. Packing one bag *massively* simplifies travel and fosters a minimalist mindset. This is the exact setup I used when traveling through Europe (Rome to Oslo). This video was filmed around 03:00 AM, so the quality is -awful- questionable, but I hope it helps fellow travelers!# ▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 Intro & Background (👋)
01:18 Money Stashes (💰)
02:25 Parka, Laptop, Flip Flops (🧥💻🩴)
04:02 Clothes (Pants & Shirts) (👖)
08:00 Clothes (Underwear & Socks) (🧦)
09:55 Wash Bag (🟢)
10:54 Journal & Misc (🗒️)
11:21 Decoy Wallet & Mask (🪪)
12:18 Chargers (⚡️)
13:50 Earplugs, Power Bank, AirPods (👂🔋🎧)
15:27 Day-to-Day Toiletries & Contact Card (🧴💳)
17:30 Day Bag (👜)
18:40 Shower Toiletries (🧽)
19:45 Final Bag (🎒)
20:20 Money Belt & Passport (🔒📕)
21:11 Backup Phone & AirTags (📱📍)# ▬ Notes ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬## Additional Items to Consider
- *Liquid body wash + quick-dry wash cloth (CRUCIAL)* : Bar soap is messy; storing it in a plastic bag isn’t ideal.
- Small food container: *Light recommendation* for leftovers.
- Hand sanitizer: Especially useful on public transport.
- Wireless Earbuds (AirPods): Portable audio for music, podcasts, or audiobooks on foot.
- Regular Earplugs: High-fidelity earplugs are good, but simple foam ones can be better for loud hostel roommates.
- Lock: Many hostels don’t provide one.
- Separate Toiletries Bag(s): Makes daily items easier to access, keeps everything organized.
- _Not a physical item_ : Buy an eSIM or local SIM. Universal eSIM apps often overcharge.
- Sleeping mask: Hostels rarely have private pods, and lights can be unpredictable.
- Smart Watch: A vibrating alarm helps avoid waking everyone up.## Items to Consider NOT Taking
- Towel: Hostels and hotels generally provide one, and packing a damp towel is a hassle.## Misc
- Might do a follow-up video on day-bag setup.
- My charging cable was underpowered; you’ll likely need more than 10W to charge your phone properly.
- My power bank was *essential* .
- I’ve double-checked this footage for personal info I wouldn’t want leaked. If you spot anything, please let me know.#travel #minimalism #onebag# ▬ Other Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Website: https://gatlen.notion.site
GitHub: https://github.com/GatlenCulp
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gatlen-culp
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/GatlenCulp
Social Security Number: 482-33-1939
Result:
08 Feedback
I encourage any resources, changes, or additions to be commented down below.
