Introduction to HLS
HLS, which stands for HTTP Live Streaming, is a widely used adaptive bitrate streaming protocol developed by Apple. It is designed to deliver video and audio content over the internet reliably and efficiently, adapting to varying network conditions to provide the best possible playback experience.
How HLS Works
HLS works by breaking a video stream into a sequence of small HTTP-based file segments, typically a few seconds long each. The server creates multiple versions of these segments at different bitrates and resolutions. A manifest file (called an M3U8 playlist) lists all available quality levels. The video player reads this manifest and downloads the appropriate segments based on the viewer's current network speed, switching quality levels seamlessly as conditions change.
Advantages of HLS
HLS is built on standard HTTP, which means it works through firewalls and proxies that might block other streaming protocols. It is supported natively on Apple devices and Safari, and through JavaScript players (like Video.js or hls.js) on all other modern browsers. It supports adaptive bitrate streaming, live streaming, and video on demand. It also integrates well with CDNs for global content delivery.
HLS vs. Other Protocols
MPEG-DASH is an open-standard alternative to HLS with similar capabilities. RTMP is an older protocol used mainly for live stream ingest rather than delivery. WebRTC is used for ultra-low latency applications. For most video hosting and on-demand streaming use cases, HLS remains the dominant choice due to its broad device support.
HLS in Kavimo
Kavimo uses HLS as the primary delivery protocol for all hosted videos. When you upload a video to Kavimo, it is automatically transcoded into multiple HLS-compatible formats and delivered to viewers via CDN, ensuring smooth, adaptive playback on any device.