CMAF

Video Streaming Technologies and Ecosystems Video streaming has become the default way to watch news, films, and live events. Behind every smooth playback is a web of technologies that spans capture, encoding, packaging, delivery, and playback. This ecosystem works across devices, networks, and regions, often with little fanfare. Encoding and codecs decide how the raw video is compressed. Popular choices today include H.264/AVC for broad compatibility, HEVC/H.265 for higher efficiency, and AV1 for future-proofing. Codecs influence file size, CPU use, and compatibility with older devices. ...

Video Streaming Protocols: HLS, DASH and More Video streaming relies on protocols to split media into small pieces and describe where to fetch them. Two of the most widely used are HLS and DASH. Both run over standard HTTP, making delivery easy with CDNs and common servers. They also support multiple quality levels so the player can adapt to changing networks. How HLS works HLS uses a simple manifest called an M3U8 file. It lets the player choose among different video bitrates and resolutions and then fetches short video segments. Because HTTP is cache-friendly, CDNs can help scale delivery for large audiences. HLS has broad device support, especially on Apple devices, but is also widely used on Android, browsers, and smart TVs. ...