What is HLS and Its Working in 2023

HLS streaming is one of the most popular streaming protocols which is currently made into use by leading live streaming service providers to deliver the best content in the best quality possible.

You probably watch live streams if you consume online information, which if you are alive in 2023, you definitely do.

Live streaming has quickly become the primary method of education and entertainment, whether it is for online lectures, sporting events, fitness classes, or celebrity interactions.

In this blog, we will be exploring the basic functionality of HLS streaming and how it works. In addition to this, we will be also looking at some of the most prominent benefits of using this protocol.

HLS Streaming - All you need to know

A protocol known as HTTP Live Streaming, or HLS, is the backbone for the vast majority of live streaming services. In fact, there's a good possibility that if you ever checked into an Instagram live stream or the Championship Game on the NBC Sports App, HLS's enchanted touch has touched you.

HLS video streaming, or HTTP Live Streaming, stands for. It accelerates the transfer of content between media servers and viewer screens, including mobile, laptop, tablet, smart TV, etc.

HLS is made by Apple and is widely used to provide live as well as on-media files. In fact, HLS is necessary if your App Store app offers video content that is longer than ten minutes or is more than 5MB in size.

Working on HLS Protocol

The standard method for streaming video on demand is now HLS. Here's how it works: HLS divides a single large movie into a series of smaller pieces, or video files, whose lengths vary according to what Mac advises.

The latest web communication technology for web content, HTML5, is there to provide HLS videos. Internet content accessible via a number of protocols is made available by HTML5 video players. These include MPEG-DASH and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS).

The stream protocol is the process that establishes the video's format, compression method, chunk size, and other factors.

An MP4 video stream is cut into small, 10-second video chunks to facilitate video streaming over HLS. Using M3U8 playlists that the HTTP server generates, streams are accessible to viewers. The video chunks in this playlist, which is also known as a file system.

Advantages of using HLS Protocol

Here are some of the most prominent benefits of using HLS protocol during your event live streaming session -

No Compromise with Video Quality

• Adaptive Bitrate Streaming is a method of the HLS video format. This method evaluates each video user's access to the fastest internet speed available.

• The video quality they have given is ready for modification after that. If properly configured, the video delivered using the HLS format will dynamically give you the greatest video quality while minimizing buffering and lagging. This strategy produces a better user experience. The video will try to keep playing for as long as it can. As long as your internet can handle the traffic, quality will scale up.

Cost Effective Solution

• The HLS format's lesser price is another major feature. As we've already stated, almost any device can play the format thanks to HTML5 and Media Source Extensions. To view the information, no particular device is necessary.

• HLS delivery can be done by regular web servers without any issues (depending on load and other factors).

Security Reasons

• Security and privacy are indeed the ultimate benefits of HLS. Simply enough, HLS gives your viewers a much more secure browser than Macromedia does—during and after they watch your content.

Disadvantages of using HLS Protocol

Everything that exists has its own pros and cons. Likewise, below are some disadvantages of using HLS as the protocol for streaming your session -

Lower Latency Streaming Issue

• The term "latency" describes the length of time that passes between when an event occurs in actuality and then when viewers can view it.

• In brief, it refers to the amount of time for the video before capturing by a lens, encoded by an HLS encoder, broadcast over the web, and then decoded for viewing.

Connectivity & Internet Speed Issue

• HLS is made to decrease actual latency but to improve output. Keyframe interval, packet size, and the requirement for a playback delay make it unsuitable for incredibly quick live streaming.

• Consequently, it usually causes your broadcast to lag for 20 to 60 seconds. These platforms for live streaming software include built-in low latency solutions, therefore those are the ones to take into account.

Summing Up

By default, the internet is a network of connections and dynamic systems that is extremely complex. HLS video streaming is now the undisputed default standard for live-streaming content.

You are subjecting your viewers to poor quality and a lot more buffering than is appropriate if you are NOT already broadcasting using an HLS player.