What Is Video Streaming And How Does It Work?

Streaming is that technology that makes your chilling with a film or binge-watching a series online possible. It means watching a video in real-time without downloading it. Technically, it is an online process of continuously transmitting audio-visual files from a server to a client’s device. It is more efficient than downloading audio or video content. An advanced video streaming technology has made reaching a larger audience across the world possible. Various video streaming portals utilize such technologies to deliver you fast and good quality audio-visual content. Also, an enormous number of streaming sites are available now to meet the increasing demand.

We have mentioned above that streaming is distinct from downloading. You might be wondering what makes the two processes different. Well, let us take a look at the differences below.

Difference between streaming and downloading
The differences between the two are as follows:
● The primary difference is that streaming means watching a video in real-time, whereas, when you download a video, you locally store the file in your device first and consume it later.
● Streaming is an online process, but downloading videos will enable you to watch them offline.
● Streaming a good quality and uninterrupted video entirely depends on your internet connection’s speed. However, a downloaded video is beyond internet access.
● To stream a video, you have to visit an online portal, and it will not be available in your device otherwise. On the other hand, a downloaded video will be stored on your device.

After we are aware of the differences, the question that arises here is how video streaming works. In the section below, we will have a brief discussion on how video streaming works. Without further ado, let’s move ahead into it.

How Video Streaming Works?
It works in the same manner as other forms of data sent and received over the internet. Firstly, the audio-visual files are broken into data packets. Your video streaming portal’s media player receives the packets and interprets them as video content for you to watch.

Further, these data packets are transmitted using a transport protocol – User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is utilized with Internet Protocol (IP). It is then known as the UDP/IP. This combination makes video streaming a fast and efficient experience.

Streaming media players use buffering to give you an uninterrupted experience. Buffering, a term we dread, loads the video content a little ahead of time so that even if your connection is disrupted, your video will not stop playing. However, if the internet speed is too slow, it might also take long to buffer.

What Are The Reasons Behind Slow Video Streaming?
There is no denying that we all have experienced slow streaming once or twice while binge-watching or just chilling with videos. But what causes this slowdown. Let us have a look at it.
● Latency
Although there are several reasons why streaming slows down, it heavily depends on the location where the user’s content is stored.
● Congestion
Another reason that impacts streaming is that if there is too much traffic on your network, it may lead to a slow streaming process.
● Internet connection
The streaming quality also depends on the speed of the internet connection of your home network.
● Bandwidth
A lower bandwidth also may pose a hurdle in the video streaming quality and speed.

An Environmental Reminder
As per a German report, streaming videos of high definitions lead to a notable amount of carbon dioxide emissions, which depends on the technology utilized for the same. “From an environmental perspective, it would be a good idea to set up more public WiFi hotspots, as this is more climate-friendly than streaming in mobile networks,” said German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze during the presentation of the report.

The point that we are trying to make here is that streaming videos will leave more carbon footprints as compared to a downloaded one.

Conclusion
Video streaming is comparatively a new term but has gained popularity in very little time. People prefer streaming their favorite videos over downloading them. This rising trend of video streaming and audio-visual streaming technologies has upped their game to meet the growing demands. Simultaneously, there has been an overwhelming increase in video streaming portals, providing you with never-ending video options. Your binge-watching game just went a step higher. We are hopeful that we have been able to put forth the basic concept of streaming and how it works.