What is Stream and how does it work?

Streaming is a technology used to transfer data to computers and mobile devices via the Internet. Streaming will transmit data - usually audio and video, but is also gradually taking other forms - in the form of a continuous 'flow', allowing the recipient to watch / listen almost immediately.

Two ways to download on the network

There are 2 ways to download content on the Internet.

1. Progressive Download (Progressive Download)
2. Streaming

Streaming is the fastest way to access web content but not the only way. Gradual download is another option that has been used for years. The basic difference between these two forms is when recipients can start using downloadable content and what happens after they finish using it.

Gradually downloading is a traditional form of download that everyone who uses the Internet is familiar with. When you download games, apps or buy music from the iTunes Store, you have to download the entire content before you can see it.

But streaming is different. Streaming allows you to view content before they are fully downloaded. For example, when streaming songs on Apple Music or Spotify, you can click and start listening almost immediately without waiting for the download to complete. This is an advantage of streaming.

What is Stream and how does it work? Picture 1
Streaming is very familiar, you can use it everyday without realizing it

The second difference is what happens to the content when you're done using it? With the first form, it will stay on the device until you delete it. With streaming, it will be deleted immediately. The song you listen to on Spotify will not be saved on your device, unless you save it for listening offline, which means downloading as in the form 1).

Required to stream content

Streaming requires how fast the Internet connection is, depending on the content of the stream. Usually 2 megabits per second is enough for SD video, HD or 4K video will need higher speeds, at least 5 mbps with HD and 9 mbps with 4K.

Live streaming

Live stream is the same as streaming mentioned above, only that it refers to content that is streamed directly from a TV show or game show or special event.

Stream games and applications

Streaming is often used to transmit audio and video, but recently Apple has used this technology to stream games and applications. This is called on-demand resources, allowing the game and the application to have a function for users to download and then stream new content when they need it. For example, the game initially has only 4 levels, but then automatically loads more levels after you start playing near the end of the previous level.

This approach is very useful because it helps to load each time faster, use less data, less storage capacity when installing applications.

Problems with streaming

A slow or interrupted network connection may affect the content usage experience. You may not be surprised that listening to a song or watching a movie in the middle is stopped due to poor network.

Frequent errors with streaming are in caching - a temporary memory for streamed content, always "filling" with the content it will stream later. For example, when you watch a movie, the cache will store the next minute while you are viewing the current minute.

If the network is weak, the buffer memory does not fill quickly and the stream will be stopped or the quality of the audio / video will be reduced to compensate.

See more:

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