Internet Streams, also known as media streams, are rapidly becoming common forms of communication over the internet. They refer to data that has been formatted to flow across a network in continuous quantity, the same way a river flows in a constant stream.
Internet streaming typically makes use of the technology of real-time delivery protocols, which are acknowledged as the foundation of streaming media services used on the contemporary web. Real-time delivery helps with providing a smooth transition from one video frame to another, which is critical for streaming audio/video content.
Internet streaming typically works by the use of protocols, such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol). The two most commonly used protocols are types of connection-oriented protocols, which involve two communication points that form a connection for the delivery media. These two types are unicast and multicast streaming.
Unicast streaming is the method used for video streams that are sent directly from one sender, usually a server, to one recipient, usually a web client. It requires a single connection, making it a reliable option for media streaming.
Multicast streaming, on the other hand, is usually used for audio and video streams that are broadcasted simultaneously to multiple receivers. This type of streaming is ideal for large-scale broadcasts, such as news or sports, because it is able to send out a single transmission instead of many individual transmissions.
Internet streaming has made it possible to view media online, interact with people in real time, stream content over mobile networks, share files with peers, and more. It has become an integral wave of communication, and a highly popular form of entertainment, especially with its use of social media websites.
Despite its popularity and its ease of use, internet streaming can become costly when transferring large amounts of data, such as an entire video. That being said, it’s a convenient and efficient method of delivering media and information across the internet, making it a staple in the world of web-based communication.
