What Is YouTube HLS
The full name of YouTube HLS is YouTube HTTP Living Streaming. It is a modern media streaming protocol that was initially developed by Apple in 2009 to stream its content. Now, it is one of the most popular protocols to stream videos online and is used by other platforms outside of Apple, such as YouTube, Hulu TV, and Twitch. It is used to deliver a reliable, high-quality, and widely accessible video experience across diverse network conditions and devices.
Additionally, apart from HLS, you may be familiar with RTMP. RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) is also a common protocol used to deliver video content over the internet. Are you curious about what is the difference between HLS and RTMPs? It’s a good chance to decide which protocol for your YouTube livestream.
Why YouTube Prefers HLS to RTMP
You know what is YouTube HLS and RTMP. Now, we will compare the compatibility, latency, security, bandwidth consumption, and cost of these two protocols below. Then, you can see intuitively why YouTube prefers HLS to RTMP.
1. Compatibility and Browser Support
HLS has better compatibility than RTMP. The former supports all modern devices and browsers, including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. If you need to reach a wide audience across various devices and browsers, HLS is the better choice for distribution.
2. Latency
Due to the segmentation and buffering, HLS typically has higher latency than RTMP. RTMP delivers videos in real time. However, HLS prioritizes stream reliability over latency, which means these streams tend to be more consistent but slower.
3. Security
Protecting your videos is critical. HLS provides a safer way to deliver content than RTMP. HLS supports HTTPS and AES encryption of video segments to protect your streams from unauthorized access and sneaky pirates.
4. Bandwidth Consumption
The bandwidth consumption for YouTube HLS and RTMP is determined by the video bitrate. However, HLS supports adaptive bitrate capabilities that allow viewers with varying internet speeds to enjoy a smooth experience. This is also a primary advantage for people to choose HLS. However, RTMP is less flexible.
5. Cost
HLS is a relatively inexpensive streaming protocol to set up and maintain. This makes it a good choice for businesses on a budget.
In short, HLS has better compatibility, is safer, has a more flexible bitrate capability, and a lower cost than RTMP, which makes more and more people choose HLS.
How Does YouTube HLS Work
Are you curious about how does YouTube HLS work? In reality, it works by breaking down the video stream into small files called segments (typically 2–6 seconds), which are stored on a web server. Then, encode them at various qualities and deliver them over standard HTTP with an M3U8 playlist.
The player reads this playlist, dynamically selects the best quality segment based on your internet speed. So, this is the process of YouTube HLS and also shows the adaptive bitrate capabilities.
How to Set up HLS Live Streaming for YouTube
After learning the differences between HLS and RTMP, and the work process of YouTube HLS, do you want to set up HLS live streaming for YouTube? If yes, follow the step-by-step instructions below now.
Step 1. Create a Live Stream
Go to YouTube, log in to your account, and click on the Create icon at the top right corner. Then select Go Live.
Step 2. Create a YouTube HLS Stream Key
1. Under Select stream key, click Create new stream key, and select HLS as a stream protocol.
2. The Stream URL for HLS ingestion will update.
3. If you need a backup ingestion, copy the Backup server URL. The Steam key is already part of the URL, so you don’t have to copy the Steam key separately.
Step 3: Start Streaming on Encoder
With everything set up, you can start streaming on your encoder. YouTube will receive this stream and broadcast it on your channel.
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Bottom Line
All in all, this article gives you the answer to what is YouTube HLS and makes a comparison between HLS and RTMP. You can also follow the detailed steps to set up HLS live streaming for YouTube after learning about the operating mechanism and choosing it.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Libur is always willing to try new things and full of enthusiasm for life. At the same time, she is passionate about making fantastic movies. Now, she has become an English editor about multimedia in MiniTool. She is good at writing articles about video editing, video conversion, and screen recording. During her spare time, Libur loves climbing mountains and listening to music. By the way, her favorite singer is Taylor Swift.