How to Rip Streaming Video

It's likely evident to anyone who spends any time on the internet that streaming video is an industry means of distributing information and content to audiences. In the past, users streamed video in moderation because of slow connection speeds and page loading issues, but these problems have long since been resolved. Consequently, streaming video has rapidly become a ubiquitous element of the modern web.

In response to the growing number of streaming videos available online, many services now give users the capability to download or "rip" these videos to their computers. The process of ripping a streaming video requires only a few simple steps and some understanding of how they work.

Before you begin the process of ripping a streaming video, it doesn't hurt to know exactly how the streaming process works and where the video is physically located. When a video streams, it is downloading temporarily so that you can view the content without actually transferring the video file to your hard drive.

A streaming video file is stored on a server managed by the website or company providing the streaming service. As a result, individuals around the world can watch the same video file simultaneously. Because of this, streaming technology has become one of the most in-demand online services.

When internet users discuss ripping a video, they are describing a process in which a streaming video — which typically has no download links available to online audiences — is captured and downloaded to a user's hard drive. The term rip was initially used to reference the duplication of audio but has since evolved in keeping with the growing sophistication of the technology.

Ripping streaming video comes with a downside — it is easy to infringe upon copyright law when ripping video content. If, for example, an individual decides to rip a movie hosted by a streaming service, the process could be a direct violation of domestic copyright law. Internet users should think carefully before they start a rip to ensure that that they are not breaking any copyright laws.

Since a stream ripper is nothing more than a video downloader, it should come as no surprise that a variety of internet platforms offer this particular service to internet users. Many of these platforms have a name that explicitly links them to the service they offer, such as "Rip YouTube Videos Online" or "YouTube Stream Ripper." In either situation, individuals using these services should expect their ripping options to be limited to the service that is mentioned explicitly in the website's name.

It is also important to note that ripping websites are not obligated to double-check the legality of content you rip. You could find yourself in legal trouble if you decide to rip copyrighted material. If the content is listed as being in the public domain or features a Creative Commons license, you can rip the streaming video without breaking any copyright laws.

With any service, the ripping process is often as simple as copying and pasting the video link into the field provided on the website. At this point, users may have the option to specify file size and video format before the rip begins and transfers the video to their hard drives.