Online video communication is an important part of our lives today. We use video calls, learn online, and participate in virtual events. WebRTC video streaming is one of the key technologies which lets real-time communication operate. In this article, we are exploring WebRTC video streaming, what it is, and where used. Let’s start.
If you want to create a streaming app with live and VOD content, we recommend you contact Setplex. The company has a solution that can help you achieve your business goals.
What is WebRTC (Real-Time Communication)?
WebRTC is a framework that enables real-time communication in browsers. More explicitly, it is a set of standards, protocols, and JavaScript APIs – these all operate simultaneously to transmit real-time communication data. One of the most excellent things about WebRTC video streaming is its speed and low-latency streaming.
Google created WebRTC streaming in 2011. The main goal was for browsers to be able to maintain real-time video and audio communication without any additional software or plug-ins.
WebRTC supports peer-to-peer communication with the help of standardized protocols. Thanks to this framework, it is possible to imitate a face-to-face conversation as data transfer is that fast.
Now, WebRTC streaming is adopted by all major browsers, including Chrome, Mozilla, Opera, Safari, and so on. It is an official standard approved by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
How Does WebRTC Work?
If you have attended online meetings in URL-based environments, you have experienced WebRTC operating. The framework is a godsend for those who need instant connection and video interaction with other users. This includes applications, one-to-one online meetings, voice and/or video calls, multicasting, and the growing field of telemedicine.
WebRTC is perfect for small-scale video streaming, but it can provide some limitations with more participants in the meeting.
The WebRTC’s use of HTML5 APIs makes browsers capture, encode, and deliver real-time streams. Live streaming usually requires at least an IP camera, encoder, and particular software, while for WebRTC video streaming, you can use a web camera and a browser.
WebRTC also involves activating UDP (User Datagram Protocol). It is a crucial protocol for the Internet ecosystem. UDP enables data transmission with low-latency connections between apps.
Positives and Negatives of WebRTC
As we brought up some limitations WebRTC might have, it certainly has some advantages and disadvantages. Let’s give them a closer look.
Positives
- WebRTC is the fastest framework for sending video over the Internet. It ensures low latency.
- WebRTC is suitable for all devices and platforms. The framework is browser-based and easily accessible. As we said earlier, all major browsers and devices support WebRTC making it possible to embed into applications without additional software.
- WebRTC is standardized, which eliminates the problems with compatibility. Moreover, it is open source, which increases the accessibility in development and support.
- WebRTC adapts to bandwidth and poor networks providing the best quality stream.
Negatives
- WebRTC has problems with scalability. The bandwidth requirements depend on the number of participants in online streaming. The more users there are in the meeting room, the greater the possibility of overwhelming the connection of users. WebRTC video streaming works for small group calls.
- The quality of the broadcast may get worse when using WebRTC. It operates on top of network connectivity and depends on the quality of web cameras.
Final Thoughts
WebRTC is a framework for real-time communications happening among small groups of people. It is adopted by corporations developing browsers. That’s why it is easy to have virtual meetings using a browser. Furthermore, WebRTC doesn’t require additional infrastructure as it easily embeds into apps. However, the framework has pitfalls when serving a larger amount of participants in online events.