Streaming videos normally work involving two files. These files include the actual video file that is stored on the web server and the launcher file that has data regarding the address of the server and other information necessary to stream the video file.

Streamed video is delivered to a client (user's computer) upon request. The video is downloaded in data packets that the media/video player recognizes, which allows the player to show the video even when the video file is not completely downloaded. These data packets are stored in a buffer from which the video player reads data and converts and displays it in video format. If the Internet connection and bandwidth is fast enough to transfer all data from the server to the client's buffer, video playback will go smoothly. Otherwise, if the buffer is not fully utilized and does not hold enough data, video playback will be choppy. Data making up streaming videos that have been converted and shown are not stored in the client computer's cache. This makes it impossible for users to save the video files for viewing at a later time.

There are programs on the Internet and on the market that allow users to capture or record streaming video while it is playing and save it to a file. Each program does this through different methods. There are capture programs that ask the user to select the region on the monitor of the screen that he or she would like to capture and save. There are also programs that allow the user to define which video players are used for streaming videos; this enables the capture program to save the video being played by those players. Other capture programs works like VCRs and allow users to time recordings and set the time for when to start and stop recording streaming videos.

Video capture programs also allow users to select the video format to which they want to save the video file. Like other software, video capture programs on the market may be free or bought from developers. There are many trial versions of these programs on the Internet that let users record and save streaming video but only to a limited extent.