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Streaming Quality Terms Explained: Bitrate, Buffering, and More

Tap a term to see what it means.

Bitrate

The amount of data transmitted per second. A higher number means better picture and sound quality, but it also requires faster internet speed.

Buffering

When playback pauses because your internet speed can't keep up with the video, while data is loaded in advance.

Adaptive Streaming

A technology that automatically raises or lowers video quality based on your internet speed, so playback continues smoothly without interruption.

Latency

The time gap between when something actually happens and when it appears on screen β€” especially important for live streaming.

Codec

The method used to compress and then play back video or audio data. Different codecs can produce very different file sizes even at the same quality level.

Frame Rate (FPS)

The number of images (frames) played per second. A higher number produces smoother-looking motion.

Know These Terms If Buffering Keeps Bothering You

Videos that keep pausing or dropping in quality are usually a sign that your internet speed isn't keeping up with the bitrate the video needs. In that situation, adaptive streaming technology automatically lowers quality to minimize interruptions.

Curious About Video File Formats Too?

If you're curious about the format of the video files themselves, it's worth also checking out a guide to video file formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fix frequent buffering?

Check your internet speed, lower the video quality setting, or switch to a wired internet connection β€” all of these can help reduce buffering.

Why does live streaming show video a few seconds behind real time?

This is due to latency introduced during video encoding and transmission, and ongoing technical advances continue to work toward minimizing this delay.