What Interactions Can You Add to a YouTube Video?
Explore the currently supported Interakly interactions for YouTube videos, when to use each one, and which spatial or branching tools require an uploaded video.
Interakly's YouTube Learning editor currently supports 21 interaction types. They cover graded checks, written and spoken responses, polls, forms, contextual cards, navigation moments, and text activities. The right choice depends on what you need the viewer to do after a specific moment in the video.
This page is the canonical Learn inventory for YouTube. It is deliberately source-specific: it lists only the interactions that the current YouTube editor profile and server allowlist both accept.
How YouTube interactions appear
Compatible questions and cards appear as overlays on top of the embedded YouTube video at authored timestamps. A blocking question can pause playback until the viewer responds. A passive moment can add context without requiring an answer.
Interakly also renders a branded timeline and transport rail beneath the YouTube player. That rail shows when interactions occur and helps the viewer navigate the experience; the question itself still appears over the video.
Verified YouTube inventory
Knowledge checks and text activities
Use these when the viewer should demonstrate recall, comprehension, sequencing, or evidence-based reading.
Multiple Choice
Checking one focused idea with prepared answer options.
Viewer action: Selects an answer card and submits it.
True / False
Surfacing a misconception or checking a clear factual claim.
Viewer action: Chooses true or false.
Numeric Input
Calculations, measurements, quantities, and numeric recall.
Viewer action: Enters a number.
Fill in the Blank
Completing a statement with a missing term or phrase.
Viewer action: Types the missing text.
Ordering
Processes, timelines, procedures, and ranked sequences.
Viewer action: Reorders a set of items.
Matching
Pairing terms with definitions, examples, or related ideas.
Viewer action: Connects the corresponding items.
Mark the Words
Finding target words or phrases in a short passage.
Viewer action: Selects words in the displayed text.
Drag the Words
Vocabulary, sentence completion, and contextual recall.
Viewer action: Places words into the appropriate blanks.
Evidence Highlight
Asking viewers to identify and explain supporting evidence.
Viewer action: Selects source evidence and explains the choice.
Verified YouTube inventory
Responses and audience input
Use these to collect explanations, opinions, confidence, structured information, or spoken answers.
Open Response
Reflection, explanation, predictions, and short written responses.
Viewer action: Types an open response.
Poll
Opinion, prior knowledge, preference, and discussion prompts.
Viewer action: Chooses an ungraded response option.
Rating Scale
Confidence, agreement, satisfaction, or self-assessment.
Viewer action: Selects a point on the configured scale.
Form
Collecting several structured fields at one moment.
Viewer action: Completes and submits the displayed form.
Audio Response
Pronunciation, verbal reflection, explanation, or practice aloud.
Viewer action: Records and submits an audio answer.
Verified YouTube inventory
Context, navigation, and participation
Use these to structure the experience, reveal information, present a next step, or make participation visible.
Chapter
Marking a meaningful section in a longer video.
Viewer action: Uses the chapter moment as part of the viewing structure.
Info Card
Definitions, reminders, supporting context, and brief notes.
Viewer action: Reads the contextual card.
Call to Action
Offering a relevant resource or next action at the right time.
Viewer action: Reads the prompt and can follow its configured link.
Choice Moment
Presenting a choice moment or a set of navigation options.
Viewer action: Chooses from the available actions.
Timed Reveal
Revealing an answer, explanation, or piece of content on cue.
Viewer action: Views the content when its authored moment arrives.
Leaderboard
Showing comparative participation or score standings.
Viewer action: Views the available leaderboard state.
Comments
Discussion tied to a precise point in the video.
Viewer action: Reads or contributes a comment at that moment.
What is not available for YouTube
Some interactions use the video frame as a spatial canvas. Interakly must own that media surface to place precise targets, labels, drawings, or an external iframe at authored coordinates. Those tools are intentionally excluded from new YouTube authoring.
Source boundary
Available with uploaded videos, not new YouTube authoring
Hotspot
Tap the right spot on a frame
Image Label
Place labels on an image
Annotation
Draw on the video frame
Drawing Submit
Submit a whiteboard drawing
Workspace Check
Validate workspace state
Embed
Embed external content
How to choose the right interaction
- To check recall: use multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, or numeric input.
- To check relationships or sequence: use matching or ordering.
- To collect an explanation: use open response, audio response, or evidence highlight.
- To collect opinion or confidence: use a poll or rating scale.
- To add context: use an info card, timed reveal, chapter, or timestamped comment.
- To offer a next step: use a timed call to action or a carefully configured Choice Moment.
- To collect several fields: use a form rather than stacking several unrelated prompts.
Start with the learning decision, not the interaction catalog. Ask what evidence you need from the viewer, choose the lightest interaction that can produce it, then preview the over-video composition at the exact timestamp.
FAQ
How many interaction types does Interakly support for YouTube?
Interakly currently exposes 21 interaction types in its YouTube Learning editor profile. This inventory is checked against both the client profile and the server allowlist as the product evolves.
Do YouTube questions appear over the video?
Yes. Compatible timestamped questions and cards render as overlays on top of the embedded YouTube video. The branded rail beneath the player shows timeline moments and playback controls; it is not a separate question panel.
Can I add a hotspot to a YouTube video?
No, not through new YouTube authoring. Hotspots and other spatial interactions require an uploaded video because they use the video frame as an Interakly-owned coordinate system.
Can a YouTube video use Interakly's full branching scenarios?
No. A YouTube-compatible Choice Moment should not be confused with the complete uploaded-video scenario workflow, which can connect distinct video segments into branching paths.
Does every interaction pause the YouTube video?
No. Blocking questions can pause playback when required, while passive or contextual moments can be configured to appear without requiring an answer. Preview the authored behavior before publishing.
Practical next step: pick one interaction that matches the evidence you need, add it immediately after the relevant video moment, and preview the full overlay before adding another.
How to Make YouTube Videos Interactive
Follow the complete YouTube workflow from an embeddable URL to a published Interakly experience.
How to Turn a YouTube Video into an Interactive Lesson
Turn your interaction choice into a coherent before, during, and after lesson arc.
How to Add a Quiz to a YouTube Video
Use the screenshot-led workflow for a concrete multiple-choice example.
How to Add Quizzes to Video
Go deeper on question design, feedback, pacing, and assessment structure.
Choose your first YouTube interaction
Start with a supported, embeddable YouTube video, add one purposeful overlay, and preview it at the exact moment it matters.
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