Streaming Technology Glossary

Key terms, acronyms, and definitions commonly used in the world of video streaming and broadcast technology.

ABR (Adaptive Bitrate Streaming): A video delivery technique that detects a user's bandwidth and CPU capacity in real time and adjusts the quality of the video stream accordingly. It provides the best possible viewing experience with minimal buffering by offering multiple bitrate streams.
API (Application Programming Interface): A set of definitions and protocols for building and integrating application software. In streaming, APIs are used to control servers, manage content, automate workflows, and retrieve analytics.
Archive: The process of saving and storing live streams or other video content for later access, on-demand viewing, or compliance purposes.
Aspect Ratio: The proportional relationship between the width and height of a video image. Common examples include 16:9 (widescreen) and 4:3 (traditional television).
Bandwidth: The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path, typically an internet connection. Measured in bits per second (bps), it determines how much data can be sent or received.
Bitrate: The number of bits processed or transmitted per unit of time, usually seconds. For video and audio, higher bitrates generally mean better quality but require more bandwidth and storage.
Bonding (Network Bonding): A technique that combines multiple internet connections (e.g., cellular, Wi-Fi, Ethernet) to increase total available bandwidth and improve reliability for streaming, especially from remote locations.
Broadcaster: An individual or organization that creates and transmits video content, typically live, to an audience via a streaming platform or service.
Buffering: A temporary delay during video playback that occurs when the video player downloads and stores a segment of the video data before playing it. This is done to ensure smooth playback, but excessive buffering indicates insufficient download speed for the selected video quality.
Capture Card: A hardware device that converts video signals from an external source (like a camera or game console) into a digital format that a computer can process for streaming or recording.
Capture Device: Any hardware used to capture video and/or audio for a stream, such as webcams, professional cameras, microphones, or screen capture software.
CDN (Content Delivery Network): A geographically distributed network of servers designed to deliver web content, including video streams, to users efficiently. CDNs cache content closer to end-users, reducing latency and improving load times.
Channel: A dedicated space or page on a streaming platform where a broadcaster's live streams and VOD content are hosted and can be accessed by viewers.
Chat: A real-time text-based communication feature that allows viewers to interact with the broadcaster and each other during a live stream.
Chroma Key (Green Screen): A visual effects technique used to replace a specific color (typically green or blue) in the background of a video with another image or video.
Closed Captioning (CC): Textual representation of the audio portion of a video, including spoken dialogue and important non-speech elements. CC improves accessibility for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or watching in noisy environments.
CMS (Content Management System): Software used to create, manage, and modify digital content. In streaming, a CMS might be used to organize VOD libraries or manage metadata for live events.
Codec (Coder-Decoder): A program or device that uses algorithms to compress (encode) raw video and audio data to reduce its file size for efficient storage and transmission, and then decompress (decode) it for playback. Examples: H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), AAC, Opus.
Copyright: A legal right that grants the creator of original work (like video content) exclusive rights for its use and distribution. Broadcasters must ensure they have the rights to stream any copyrighted material.
CTA (Call to Action): A prompt or instruction designed to encourage an immediate response from the viewer, such as "Subscribe," "Donate," "Learn More," or "Buy Now."
Dashboard: A web-based control panel or interface that allows broadcasters to manage their streaming settings, monitor performance, view analytics, and control their live streams or VOD content.
Donations: Voluntary monetary contributions made by viewers to support a streamer or broadcaster, often facilitated through integrated platform features or third-party services.
Embed: The process of integrating a video player (for a live stream or VOD) directly into a webpage, application, or other online platform using a snippet of code.
Encoder: A hardware device or software application that converts raw video and audio signals into a compressed digital format suitable for streaming over the internet. It prepares the feed for ingest by a streaming server.
Firewall: A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, helping to protect streaming infrastructure from unauthorized access.
FPS (Frames Per Second): The frequency at which consecutive images (frames) are displayed in a video sequence. Higher FPS (e.g., 60 FPS) results in smoother motion, especially for fast-paced content.
Go Live: The action of starting a live broadcast, making the stream visible and accessible to viewers.
HLS (HTTP Live Streaming): An adaptive bitrate streaming protocol developed by Apple. It breaks video into small, HTTP-based segments, allowing for efficient delivery and playback on a wide range of devices, including iOS.
HTML5 Video Player: A video player that uses HTML5 technology (specifically the '<video>' tag) to play video content directly in web browsers without requiring third-party plugins like Flash. Most modern web video players are HTML5-based.
Ingest / Ingest Server: The process of sending a live video feed from an encoder to a streaming server or platform. The ingest server is the specific server endpoint that receives this incoming stream.
IP Camera (Internet Protocol Camera): A type of digital video camera that transmits and receives data over an IP network. IP cameras can be used directly as sources for live streaming if they support common streaming protocols like RTSP or RTMP.
ISP (Internet Service Provider): A company that provides individuals and organizations with access to the internet and other related services.
Latency: In streaming, the delay between the time an event is captured by the camera and when it is seen by the viewer on their screen. Low latency is critical for interactive live streams. Ultra-low latency refers to delays typically under a few seconds or even sub-second.
Linear Streaming: A continuous, scheduled stream of content, similar to traditional television broadcasting, where viewers tune in to a pre-programmed feed. This can include both live and pre-recorded content.
Livestream / Live Streaming: The broadcasting of video and audio content over the internet in real-time, as it happens, allowing viewers to watch events as they unfold.
Lower Third: A graphic overlay placed in the lower area of the video screen, typically used to display names, titles, or other contextual information.
Metadata: Data that provides information about other data. In streaming, metadata can include video titles, descriptions, tags, speaker names, timestamps, and other information that helps describe and organize the content.
Mobile Streaming: Broadcasting or viewing live streams using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.
Monetization: The process of generating revenue from streaming content, through methods such as advertising, subscriptions, pay-per-view, donations, or sponsorships.
MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP): An international standard for adaptive bitrate streaming that is codec-agnostic and designed for delivery over HTTP. It allows for efficient streaming and good compatibility across devices.
Multistreaming (Simulcasting): The practice of broadcasting a single live video stream to multiple platforms or channels simultaneously (e.g., streaming to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch at the same time from one source).
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software): A popular free and open-source software application for video recording and live streaming, widely used by content creators.
OME (OvenMediaEngine): An open-source, sub-second latency streaming server that enables you to build scalable and reliable live streaming services with various protocols like WebRTC, LLHLS, HLS, MPEG-DASH, and RTMP.
OTT (Over-The-Top): The delivery of video content (movies, TV shows, live broadcasts) directly to viewers over the internet, bypassing traditional cable or satellite television distribution.
Overlays: Graphics, text, or interactive elements (like polls or Q&A) that are displayed on top of the video stream to provide additional information or enhance viewer engagement.
Paywall: A system that restricts access to content until the viewer pays a fee or provides valid subscription credentials.
Picture-in-Picture (PiP): A feature where one video stream is displayed in a small window on top of another, larger video stream that is currently playing.
Platform (Streaming Platform): A service or software solution that hosts, manages, and delivers live or on-demand video content to viewers. Examples include YouTube Live, Twitch, Facebook Live, or custom platforms built with servers like OvenMediaEngine.
Protocol (Streaming Protocol): A set of rules or standards that define how video and audio data is formatted, transmitted, and received between different components in a streaming workflow (e.g., encoder to server, server to player).
Record: The action of capturing and storing a live stream or video feed digitally for later playback, editing, or archival.
Resolution: The number of distinct pixels in each dimension of a video display, typically expressed as width × height (e.g., 1920×1080 for Full HD). Higher resolution generally means a sharper, more detailed image.
RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol): A TCP-based protocol originally developed for streaming audio, video, and data between a Flash player and a server. It is now primarily used for ingesting live streams from encoders to media servers.
Server (Streaming Server / Media Server): A specialized computer system or software that processes, manages, and delivers video and audio streams to viewers over a network.
Software Encoder: A software application that runs on a computer to perform the video and audio encoding process, converting raw media into a streamable format. OBS Studio is an example.
SRT (Secure Reliable Transport): An open-source video transport protocol designed for reliable, low-latency streaming over noisy or unpredictable networks, like the public internet. It's often used for contribution feeds.
Stream Key: A unique alphanumeric code provided by a streaming platform that an encoder uses to identify and authenticate an incoming live stream, ensuring the stream is sent to the correct channel or account.
Switcher (Video Switcher): Hardware or software that allows a broadcaster to select and transition between multiple video sources (cameras, pre-recorded videos, screen shares, etc.) during a live production.
Transcoding: The process of decompressing an already encoded video file and then re-compressing it into a different format, bitrate, resolution, or codec. This is often done to create multiple renditions for ABR or to ensure device compatibility.
Transmuxing (Packaging): The process of changing the container format of a media stream (e.g., from an MP4 container to HLS segments) without re-encoding the underlying video and audio essences. It's faster than transcoding as it doesn't alter the core media data.
Upload Speed: The rate at which data can be sent from a user's device to the internet, measured in Mbps. Sufficient upload speed is critical for broadcasters to send a stable, high-quality live stream to the ingest server.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The web address that specifies the location of a resource on the internet, such as a webpage or a specific stream endpoint.
Viewer Analytics: Data and statistics related to viewership, such as concurrent viewers, total views, watch time, geographic location of viewers, and engagement metrics. This information helps broadcasters understand their audience and content performance.
Viewer Engagement: The extent to which viewers interact with a live stream, including actions like chatting, reacting, participating in polls, asking questions, or donating.
VOD (Video on Demand): A system that allows users to access and watch video content at any time they choose, rather than at a scheduled broadcast time. Examples include recorded live streams or uploaded video libraries.
Webcam: A small digital video camera, often built into or connected to a computer, commonly used for video conferencing and basic live streaming setups.
Webcast: A media presentation or broadcast distributed over the internet using streaming technology. The term is often used interchangeably with "live stream," especially for more formal or one-to-many presentations.
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication): An open-source framework that enables real-time audio, video, and data communication directly within web browsers and mobile applications via simple APIs, facilitating ultra-low latency streaming and interactive applications.