YouTube announced yesterday that it is now allowing users to edit the videos they upload onto the site.

Previously, videos could only be hosted and shared, but not altered once uploaded to YouTube. But all of that has changed now that YouTube added an "Edit Video" tab at the top of a user's account.

The new editing feature allows users to add effects, trim the video time or change the soundtrack once posted. Also, a user can edit their video long after posting it and it will maintain the same video IDs. Video IDs are the comments and view count your video has received at that particular point.

To edit a video, a user simply clicks the new "Edit Video" tab near the top of the window of the video's page, where it will let you perform a variety of edits including rotating the video, stabilizing handheld footage, color correction, adding effects and boosting the contrast and colors.

Once a user has made all the necessary changes, simply click "Save." If the editor is not pleased with the result, the user can revert back to the original and save it once again. Also, edits can be saved into another copied version of your video so that the original isn't tampered with. 

YouTube did note, however, that popular videos with over 1,000 views as well as videos with third party content can only be saved as new videos if edited. 

The new service was gradually put in place yesterday.