Streaming what is

Play a song on Apple Music or Spotify , for instance, and you can click Play to start listening almost immediately. You don't have to wait for the song to download before the music starts.

This is one of the major advantages of streaming: It delivers data to you as you need it. Progressive download is another option that was around for years before streaming was possible. The key differences between the two are when you can start watching and what happens to the content after you view it. A progressive download requires the entire file to be downloaded prior to watching or listening to it, and the file remains on your computer after you are done with it.

A primary difference between streaming and downloads is what happens to the data after you use it. For downloads, the item stays on your device until you delete it. For streams, your device automatically deletes the data after you use it. A song you stream from Spotify isn't saved to your computer unless you save it for offline listening, which is a kind of download. Streaming requires a relatively fast internet connection; just how fast depends on the type of media you are streaming.

Keep in mind, if others are on your network family members watching their own videos , it could affect what you are trying to watch. Live streaming is the same as the streaming discussed above, but it's specifically used for internet content delivered in real-time as it happens. Live streaming is popular with live television shows, gaming broadcasts, and special one-time events or sports. Streaming has traditionally delivered audio and video, but Apple has recently implemented technology that allows streaming to work with games and apps, too.

This technique, called on-demand resources, structures games and apps to include a core set of functions when the user first downloads them and then streams new content as the user needs it.

For example, a game might include its first four levels in the initial download and then automatically download levels five and six when you start playing level four. This approach is useful because it means downloads are quicker and use less data, which is especially important if you have a data limit on your phone plan. It also means that apps take up less space on the device they're installed on.

Because streaming delivers data as you need it, slow or interrupted internet connections can cause problems. For example, if you have streamed only the first 30 seconds of a song, and your internet connection drops before any more of the song has loaded on your device, the song stops playing. The most common streaming error that crops up has to do with buffering. The buffer is a program's temporary memory that stores the streamed content. The buffer is always filling up with the content you need next.

For example, if you watch a movie, the buffer stores the next few minutes of video while you're watching the current content. If your internet connection is slow, the buffer won't fill up quickly enough, and the stream either stops or the quality of the audio or video decreases to compensate. If you have Fios, Fios TV One is a powerful all-in-one with voice remote and seamless Netflix integration to get to what you want to watch faster — including select shows in 4K quality.

Learn more. Even more exciting is the growing number of streaming apps joining the ranks that will offer a world of new content. Variety is definitely the future of streaming apps with something for everyone. As mentioned, streaming requires a certain amount of speed for optimal performance. Many video streaming services offer minimum speed recommendations based on quality of content resolution.

The higher the resolution like 4K, the more speed is needed for virtually flawless music and movie streaming. To see recommended speed guidelines, visit the FCC website. Check availability. The maximum amount of data transmitted over an internet connection in a given amount of time.

Fiber optics is the technology used to transmit information as pulses of light through strands of fiber made of glass or plastic over long distances. NTV Sports now comes with free live streaming for mobile devices. Internet terminology. Some people object to streaming because it gives an unfair advantage to intelligent children. Classifying and creating order.

If you have a streaming cold , your nose and eyes are producing a lot of liquid because you have a common infection. Movement of liquids.

Jeff's new cell phone receives streaming video. You can watch live streaming of our interactive service on our website. What is the pronunciation of streaming? Browse stream of consciousness. Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes. Image credits. Word of the Day have a heart of gold.