HLS 101: What it is, How it works & When to use it

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is a media streaming protocol designed to deliver audio and video content over the internet. It allows for adaptive bitrate streaming, enabling viewers to experience high-quality video playback even with varying network conditions. HLS has become the default way to play video on demand and is widely supported across platforms, devices, and browsers. The protocol consists of three major components: the media server, content delivery network (CDN), and client-side video player. In 2019, Apple introduced Low Latency HLS (LL-HLS) to significantly reduce latency while maintaining compatibility with Apple devices. Advantages of using HLS include transcoding for adaptive bitrate streaming, efficient delivery and scaling, and support for advanced features such as ad insertion, digital rights management (DRM), closed captions, and more.