Streaming Protocol
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
Streaming Protocols deliver data continuously instead of in one big chunk. Video streaming, audio streaming, real-time data feeds — they all use protocols designed for continuous flow. HLS, DASH, WebRTC, gRPC streaming — different protocols for different streaming needs.
Real Talk
Streaming protocols enable continuous data delivery over networks. HTTP-based: HLS (Apple), DASH (MPEG). Real-time: WebRTC (peer-to-peer), RTMP (legacy). Application-level: gRPC streaming, SSE, WebSocket. Each trades off latency, compatibility, and complexity differently.
When You'll Hear This
"HLS is our video streaming protocol — it works on every device and through every CDN." / "gRPC server streaming pushes stock price updates to clients in real time."
Related Terms
gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call)
gRPC is like REST but on steroids and speaking a secret language only computers understand.
Server-Sent Events Pattern
Server-Sent Events (SSE) is a one-way stream from server to browser over plain HTTP. The server pushes updates, the client just listens.
WebRTC
WebRTC is how your browser does video calls, screen sharing, and peer-to-peer connections without any plugins.