HLS stands for HTTP Live Streaming. It is the protocol that delivers your live stream to viewers devices. You do not need to configure it manually, but understanding how it works helps you make better decisions about your streaming setup.
How HLS works
When you send your video to a streaming platform via RTMP, the platform transcodes it into HLS format. HLS breaks the video into small chunks (typically 2 to 10 seconds each) and serves them to viewers via regular web servers.
This chunking approach is what makes HLS reliable. If a chunk fails to download, the player simply requests it again. This makes HLS much more resilient than protocols that stream continuous data.
Adaptive bitrate streaming
HLS supports adaptive bitrate streaming, which means the platform creates multiple versions of your stream at different quality levels. The viewer player automatically switches between them based on the viewer internet speed.
A viewer on fast broadband sees HD quality. A viewer on a slow mobile connection sees a lower resolution but smooth playback. This happens automatically without the viewer doing anything.
Latency
Standard HLS has a latency (delay) of 15 to 30 seconds between real-time and what viewers see. For most events this is fine. If you need lower latency, ask your platform about low-latency HLS (LL-HLS), which can reduce the delay to 2 to 5 seconds.
Delivered in broadcast quality
PassCast uses HLS with adaptive bitrate to deliver your stream to every viewer in the best quality their connection supports.
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