Video and adaptive streaming + WebRTC fundamentals
Comes up in: Frontend system design, Web fundamentals
This concept is being written. It gets the full five steps — explanation, predict, interview angle, practice with tests, and review cards. Here is exactly what it will cover, so you can study it elsewhere in the meantime.
What it covers
<video>and formats/codecs- progressive download vs adaptive bitrate (HLS, DASH)
- Media Source Extensions
- buffering and ABR decisions
- captions (WebVTT)
- DRM/EME awareness
- Media Session API
- peer connection
- signalling (you provide it, e.g. WebSocket)
- SDP offer/answer
- ICE, STUN, TURN
- data channels
- SFU vs mesh for group calls
Words you will know
What you will practise
- build an ABR decision simulator
- two-tab video call demo
Interview questions this answers
- How does adaptive bitrate streaming work?
- What is Media Source Extensions?
- Explain the WebRTC connection process. Why are STUN and TURN servers needed?
- Mesh vs SFU for a 10-person video call?