Glossary A–ZLetter S
Streaming
Streaming means that a video or audio is transmitted continuously over the network during playback, instead of being stored completely on the device beforehand.
The device shows what is arriving and keeps only a small buffer of it.
In screen networks, streaming is used mainly for live content: coverage of an event, an address by the management, a television programme over the network or a camera feed. Common methods include HLS and MPEG-DASH for video over the internet and RTSP for cameras on the local network. For ordinary content such as advertising films, downloading in advance is the norm.
The difference matters for operations. A downloaded video plays even without a connection, whereas a stream breaks off as soon as the network falters. Streaming needs bandwidth continuously, for every screen that fetches the stream individually; over mobile networks this can become expensive. Operators should provide fallback content that appears if a stream fails and check whether the player supports the method used. For third-party live content, the provider's rights apply.