How M3U8 and HLS Work Together
M3U8 and HLS are closely related but different concepts. Understanding their relationship helps you use M3U8 players more effectively.
HLS Protocol Overview
HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a streaming protocol developed by Apple for audio and video streaming. It breaks content into small segments and transmits them via HTTP protocol.
M3U8's Role
M3U8 is the playlist file format used by the HLS protocol. M3U8 files (typically ending with .m3u8) contain index information for all video segments, which the player uses to download and play segments in sequence.
The Relationship
Simply put, HLS is a technical protocol, and M3U8 is one of its specific implementation forms. M3U8 files are the UTF-8 encoded version of HLS playlists.