HTTP Live Streaming
HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol developed by Apple for delivering live and on-demand video and audio over the internet. It works by breaking the overall stream into a sequence of small HTTP-based file downloads, each containing a short segment of the overall content. This allows the client to adapt to changing network conditions by switching between different quality streams in real-time.
Developers should learn HLS when building video streaming applications, especially for cross-platform compatibility, as it is widely supported on iOS, Android, macOS, and many web browsers. It is ideal for live events, video-on-demand services, and applications requiring adaptive streaming to handle varying bandwidth and device capabilities, such as in educational platforms or media distribution.