HLS Technology Standards Explained
The HLS technology behind M3U8 is an international streaming standard. Understanding its technical details helps you better use and develop related applications.
HLS Protocol Overview
HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a streaming protocol launched by Apple in 2009, now an international standard (RFC 8216). It transmits audio and video content via HTTP protocol and has good cross-platform compatibility.
M3U8 File Format
M3U8 files are UTF-8 encoded playlist files containing an #EXTM3U header and multiple #EXTINF tag-defined media segments. Each segment can be a complete URI or relative path.
Adaptive Bitrate
HLS supports multi-bitrate streams, where players can automatically switch between different quality levels based on network conditions. The Master Playlist defines available bitrate indices, and players automatically select the most appropriate stream.