HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)
协议A video streaming protocol developed by Apple that delivers video over standard HTTP.
What is HLS?
HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is the most widely used protocol for delivering video over the internet to large audiences (like Netflix, YouTube, or Twitch). It works by breaking the video stream into small chunks (e.g., 6-second files) and downloading them over standard HTTP connections, just like regular web pages.
HLS vs. WebRTC
- Latency: HLS typically has high latency (10-30 seconds) because the player must buffer several chunks before playing. WebRTC has sub-second latency (real-time).
- Scalability: HLS scales cheaply to millions of viewers using standard Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). WebRTC requires complex and expensive server infrastructure (SFUs/MCUs) to scale.
- Quality: HLS supports very high bitrate and Adaptive Bitrate perfectly, ensuring the best viewing experience.
Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS)
A newer extension of the protocol, LL-HLS, aims to reduce latency to under 2 seconds, bridging the gap between traditional streaming and real-time communication.