Server-side Considerations for your WebRTC Infrastructure

Internet users today demand seamless online experiences, including video communication. To meet these expectations, video conferences must offer sub-second latency and high-quality audio/video transmission. WebRTC is often chosen to build such video experiences. While some WebRTC calls are possible without an external server, a signaling server is required to establish the connection. Most calls would fail on a direct connection, and issues arise as more peers join in. To optimize call performance, different servers can be used within the WebRTC ecosystem. This article discusses various elements on the server side that must be considered when building a WebRTC solution, including signaling servers, STUN/TURN servers, and media servers like MCU and SFU.