- ABR / multi-bitrate
- The same signal published at several resolutions at once; the player picks the one each viewer's connection can hold.
- AV1
- A newer video codec that needs even less bitrate than HEVC; support on TV sets and older phones is still partial.
- Bitrate
- Amount of video data per second, in Mbps. It decides picture quality and how much each viewer uses.
- CDN / delivery network
- Servers spread around the world that replicate the stream so each viewer gets it from a nearby point. For video, not optional.
- Concurrent viewers
- How many people are watching at the same time. Many plans are sold by this number: choose by the peak.
- DVR
- A recording of the last hours or days on air that lets viewers rewind live or watch a show later.
- Encoder
- Software (OBS, vMix, Wirecast) or hardware that compresses the program output and sends it to the server.
- FPS
- Frames per second: 30 for most shows, 60 for fast sports; 25 and 50 in PAL countries.
- H.264
- The video codec everything plays: browsers, phones, TV sets. The safe choice for live streaming.
- HEVC / H.265
- A codec that needs noticeably less bitrate than H.264 for the same picture, with less universal support.
- HLS
- HTTP Live Streaming: the signal in segments of a few seconds, published over HTTP. The standard for live video on the internet.
- Ingest
- The point in the provider's network where the encoder's signal enters.
- Keyframe
- A full picture in the stream; the rest only carry changes. For HLS, one every 2 seconds is the usual setting.
- Latency
- Delay between the studio and what the viewer sees: 10 to 30 seconds on classic HLS, a few with low-latency setups.
- Linear channel
- A channel with a continuous schedule, like broadcast TV, as opposed to individual events or on-demand videos.
- LL-HLS
- Low-latency HLS: smaller segments that bring the delay down to a few seconds.
- OTT
- Over the top: TV delivered over the internet instead of cable or antenna.
- Rendition
- Each of the qualities produced by multi-bitrate, such as 720p or 480p.
- RTMP
- Classic protocol for sending video from the encoder to the ingest. Every broadcasting program supports it.
- Simulcast
- Sending the same signal from the server to YouTube, Facebook or Twitch, without extra upload from the studio.
- SLA
- A published availability commitment, as a percentage. It counts when it is measured and backed by compensation.
- Slate
- An image or loop shown automatically when the live signal drops, so viewers never see a black screen.
- SRT
- Modern protocol for sending video over unstable connections: it recovers lost packets, encrypts and keeps latency under control.
- Transcoding
- Converting the incoming signal into other resolutions or bitrates, for example to produce multi-bitrate.
- Transfer
- Total data viewers use in a month (GB or TB). Some providers cap or bill it; others include it with no cap.
- Video AutoDJ
- A library of recorded programs on the server that airs on schedule and whenever there is no live signal.
- Viewer hours
- One viewer watching for one hour equals one. Some providers bill monthly viewer-hour allowances.
- VOD
- Video on demand: recorded programs viewers play whenever they want.
- WebRTC
- A real-time protocol with under a second of delay, used for video calls and interactive streams; costly at large scale.
- White-label player
- A player with your brand only, with no provider logo or ads.
Glossary
Video streaming glossary: the terms in two lines
The terms that show up in quotes, panels and support tickets, explained for TV people rather than engineers. Alphabetical; every entry has its own link you can cite.
A guide by INOVANEX · Updated October 26, 2026