api.video lets you quickly and securely deliver on-demand and live-stream videos directly from your website, software, or app. 

api.video

Glossary-Cloud-video-platform.svg

## What is a cloud video platform?
An end-to-end cloud video platform allows you to transcode, upload, host, deliver, stream, and analyze video content — all within the cloud. “The cloud” is servers, software and databases that are accessed over the Internet. Popular platforms include Vimeo, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. A cloud video platform is different from just a video platform because it makes use of the cloud to handle most or all of the services it provides.

## What is “the cloud?” 
The cloud lets people access content from almost any device, because the content isn’t stored locally. Instead, with a cloud video platform, video is stored in servers on data centers located all over the world. Cloud computing uses virtualization to create multiple simulations of a physical computer. One server can contain many virtual machines, each separate and private from the others around it. With this kind of setup, data can be replicated and served to customers anywhere. Separate companies can have their information stored individually. If a server goes down, content can still be made available to customers by falling back to other virtual machines that contain the same content. Part of how “the cloud” is set up is designed to make it available 24-7. 

## How does “the cloud” work in a cloud video platform?
The cloud is perfect for video platforms, because it makes the video platform’s services available 24-7. You can watch movies on Netflix any time of day. If you’re building your own video project, you can use api.video’s API at any time of day. It also works well, because companies serving video can use powerful computers that can store, process and deliver video more effectively than if they had to store video content locally. 

## What’s in a video platform?
Different video platforms offer different types of services. For example, you sign in to Amazon Prime Video to watch movies. The platform allows you to browse and watch content. Another type of platform, like what api.video offers, provides you with what you need to build your own video service. You can learn more about what goes into a video platform in our other glossary post [What is a video platform?](https://api.video/what-is/video-platform/).

## Cloud video and api.video
api.video is proud to use the cloud as part of its private, video focused Content Delivery Network (CDN). By using the cloud, api.video is able to offer blazing fast transcoding and delivery. Everything is transcoded to HLS, so you and your customers always receive the video quality that is the best and most efficient for the devices you are streaming to. 



Glossary-Cloud-video-streaming.svg

## What is cloud video streaming? 
A cloud video streaming service streams and stores your video data (or someone else's video data) in the cloud. A good cloud video streaming service will host video, deliver it reliably whenever you want, be scalable and able to reach millions with its content. Some popular cloud video streaming services include Netflix and Hulu, but they can also include services like YouTube, Vimeo and api.video. 

Before cloud video streaming was a service you could buy, if you wanted to broadcast your video content to millions, you needed the right servers and hardware to do so. If you can afford the infrastructure and the storage costs for this, great. And, if you have time to optimize everything for video, that's even better. However, typically there's a steep, expensive learning curve for this. If you don't want to focus on how to host and stream video because your interest is in the content itself, then a cloud video streaming service is for you. 

## How does cloud video streaming work? 
Cloud video streaming uses a network of servers that host and deliver video. When you are ready to live stream or upload a video for viewing, the service you've selected will transcode your video to prepare and optimize it for transmission. Your content will be transcoded into [HLS](https://api.video/what-is/http-live-streaming-hls/) and instantly made available. For a more in-depth discussion of how a video leaves a camera, travels across the internet and arrives on your display device, please see [What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of RTMP?](https://api.video/blog/video-trends/what-is-rtmp-and-why-do-we-use-it-for-live-streaming/)

## Features of a cloud video streaming service
The ideal cloud video service will offer customers everything they need to ensure video broadcasting success. That means including: 

* **API access** - Depending on the type of service, a cloud video service's API features will be wildly different. For example Netflix's API lets you access data about their movie and TV titles. YouTube's API lets you retrieve information and videos for different users and add them to applications. And api.video lets you build your own Netflix or YouTube or other type of video sharing platform. 
* **Live streaming and recording** - Transmitting live video and audio is a key feature of a cloud video streaming service, but equally important is live recording. Not everyone can tune in to your live stream when it's happening. That's why a good cloud video streaming service will allow you to record your live stream for playback later. 
* **Transcoding** - To prepare your video to be hosted or delivered, it helps if it's optimized for the web. Some cloud video streaming services expect you to prepare your video, but some services include transcoding. Because HLS is so widely supported, it's likely that your video will be transcoded to HLS.
* **Video player** - Cloud video streaming services include a video player. HTML5 video players are the most popular and common -- even Netflix uses HTML5 for its video player. 
* **Monetization** - Depending on what angle a streaming service has, monetization is included so you can monetize your content, or its included so the service can monetize the content it shows you. Who controls the monetization depends 
* **Video analytics** - A useful feature for a cloud video streaming service is analytics. No matter the type of platform, knowing how it's being used is valuable. Some platforms, for example Hulu, won't expose analytics to the customer because that information is more for people who are offering the platform as a service to digest. But if you're building your own platform like this, the more analytics the better. In-between services like Vimeo or YouTube offer you some analytics. For the most control and detail, services like api.video are great because you can learn so much about how users interact with your videos. 
* **[Content Delivery Network](https://api.video/what-is/content-delivery-network/)** - A video streaming service is only as good as its content delivery network. Today big companies like Akamai and others ensure that their servers can process all types of content with ease -- including video. However, when it comes to video, the very best content delivery will be from CDNs that are designed and optimized solely to handle video. Many popular streaming services already do this with their servers by offering their own CDNs.
* **Support** - If something goes wrong while you're watching content on a streaming service or building your own, you will want help with it. That's why every good video streaming service offers help in the form of live support and documentation to answer your questions.
* **Privacy and Security** - All users and customers want privacy for their personal data and the ability to add privacy and security options. For example, if someone paid to view content on a streaming service, they want to know not just anyone can use their account without their knowledge. Or, in a set up where someone is building their own service, they'll want to be able to choose how to restrict and display their content to customers on their platform.

Glossary-Codec.svg

## What is a video codec? 
A codec is a hardware or software tool that is used to compress (and decompress) video files. Common video codecs include h.264, h.265, V8, VP9 and AV1. Video codecs are the fundamental building blocks that enable the compression, encoding, and decoding of digital video content. These specialized algorithms play a crucial role in the efficient storage, transmission, and playback of video files and streams across various devices and platforms.

## Understanding Video Codecs
At their core, video codecs work by analyzing raw video data and applying various compression techniques to reduce file size without significantly compromising visual quality. This process involves identifying and removing redundant information, such as identical or similar pixel patterns, while preserving the essential visual elements.
The primary objectives of video codecs are to:
1. Compress Video Data: Reduce the file size of video files to enable efficient storage and faster transmission over networks.
2. Maintain Visual Quality: Ensure that the compressed video retains a high level of image quality and fidelity.
3. Enable Interoperability: Allow video content to be played back on a wide range of devices and media players.

## Common Video Codec Standards
Over the years, various video codec standards have emerged, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. Obviously, codec support in browsers and devices is important. There are many many video codecs, but here are the most common:
* h264 is the most [widely supported video codec](https://caniuse.com/?search=h264) (98.2% browser support in June 2021)  It is often help in an .mp4 container, and today most videos on the web utilize the h.264 codec.
* h.265: The successor of h264, which features better compression at the same quality settings. Unfortunately, the h265 codec is highly patent encumbered - resulting in reduced support across devices due to its high cost.  
* h.266 (Versatile Video Codec) is the next generation of the line, but is not yet supported in any browsers.
* VP8/VP9/AV1 codecs are generational video codecs that are royalty free. Much like the h26x generations of videos, each subsequent codec features improved compression and quality.  The AV1 format is 25-35% smaller than the VP9 format, and has had some limited success. The current limitation with the AV1 codec is that the compression step is significantly slower than other formats. It is expected that as compression time improves, AV1 usage will increase.  
** VP8 and VP9 videos ship in a webm container that is supported on 78% of browsers (98% in a webRTC context).
** AV1 will also likely ship in the webm container, and is supported by 78% of all browsers for playback.  

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Each codec has its own trade-offs in terms of compression efficiency, visual quality, hardware requirements, and licensing considerations. The choice of codec often depends on the specific needs of the video application, the target audience, and the available hardware capabilities.

## The Importance of Codec Selection
Selecting the right video codec is crucial for ensuring optimal performance, compatibility, and user experience. Factors such as bitrate, resolution, frame rate, and the intended use case (e.g., streaming, video conferencing, or video production) should all be considered when choosing the appropriate codec.

Incorrect codec selection can lead to issues like poor video quality, compatibility problems, increased buffering, and higher storage or bandwidth requirements. Staying informed about the latest codec advancements and their practical applications is essential for content creators, service providers, and technology professionals.  

Video codecs typically utilize [lossy compression](https://api.video/what-is/lossy-compression/) meaning that data is lost as the video is compressed. When choosing a video codec, a few trade offs must be considered:
* Time required to compress the file
* Codec support in playback devices
* Compression efficiency (how small are the new video files)
* Compression quality (how lossy is the compression)  

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There are often settings in the compression tooling that allows for modification of the compression/quality metrics - generally speaking, increasing the compression lowers the file size (and the video quality).

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At api.video, we recognize the importance of video codec compatibility and optimization. Our platform supports a wide range of popular video codecs, ensuring your content can be seamlessly uploaded, processed, and delivered to your audience. Whether you're working with H.264, VP9, AV1, or any other codec, api.video provides the tools and flexibility to handle your video needs effectively, from encoding to playback. [Sign up now](https://dashboard.api.video/register)!

Glossary-Computer-vision.svg

## What is Computer Vision?
Computer Vision is a field of [Artificial Intelligence](https://api.video/what-is/artificial-intelligence/) that enables computers to gain high-level understanding from digital images or videos. In the context of video technology, it allows machines to extract, analyze, and understand useful information from visual data, mimicking human visual processing capabilities.

## Key Components of Computer Vision
Computer Vision systems typically involve several key components:
1. Image Acquisition: Capturing or receiving visual data
2. Image Pre-processing: Enhancing images for further analysis
3. Feature Detection and Extraction: Identifying key points or patterns in images
4. Segmentation: Dividing images into meaningful regions
5. High-level Processing: Making decisions based on the extracted features
6. Output: Generating results such as object classifications or scene descriptions

## Computer Vision Techniques in Video Processing
Several techniques are particularly relevant to video processing, such as object detection and tracking, in order to identify and follow specific objects across video frames. Action recognition and scene understanding for an analysis of the overall context and environment in video frames, as well as understanding and classifying human actions or events in video sequences. Other techniques include optical flow (estimating motion between video frames) and 3D reconstruction (creating three-dimensional models from two-dimensional video sequences).

## Applications in Video Technology
Computer Vision has transformed numerous aspects of video technology:
- Video Surveillance: Automatically detecting and tracking objects or people in security footage.
- Content-Based Video Retrieval: Enabling search and organization of video libraries based on visual content.
- Augmented Reality: Overlaying digital information onto real-world video feeds.
- Video Editing and Post-production: Automating tasks like color correction, object removal, or special effects application.
- Quality Control: Detecting defects or inconsistencies in video production.
- Gesture Control: Enabling hands-free control of devices through video-based gesture recognition.

## Challenges and Considerations
While powerful, Computer Vision in video technology faces several challenges. Variability in visual data poses a significant hurdle, requiring systems to deal with changes in lighting, perspective, and occlusion in video sequences. Real-time processing is another critical concern, as achieving low-latency performance is essential for live video applications.

Many Computer Vision models also require large amounts of labeled video data for training, which can be resource-intensive. The ability to analyze video content raises important questions about surveillance and personal privacy, necessitating careful consideration of ethical implications. Finally, ensuring robustness and generalization remains a key challenge, as systems must perform well across diverse video scenarios and conditions.

## The Future of Computer Vision in Video
As Computer Vision techniques continue to advance, we can expect several exciting developments. Closer integration with Natural Language Processing and other AI domains will likely lead to more comprehensive video understanding. We can anticipate improved ability to interpret three-dimensional scenes from two-dimensional video input, enhancing 3D understanding.

More sophisticated analysis of human behavior and emotions in video content is on the horizon, paving the way for advanced emotion and intent recognition. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, we'll likely see the development of advanced techniques to identify synthetic or manipulated video content. Lastly, the rise of edge computing promises more powerful Computer Vision capabilities on mobile and edge devices, enabling sophisticated real-time video processing in a wider range of environments and applications.

As Computer Vision continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of video technology, offering new possibilities for content creation, analysis, and user experience while also presenting new challenges and ethical considerations for the industry to address.

## What are Video Containers?
In the world of digital video, a video container, also known as a file format or wrapper, is a file structure that encapsulates various media elements, such as video, audio, subtitles, and metadata, into a single, self-contained package. These containers play a crucial role in ensuring the compatibility and seamless playback of video content across different devices and media players.

## Understanding Video Containers
Video containers act as a standardized framework that organizes and stores the various components of a video file. They provide a consistent way to package the encoded video and audio streams, along with any additional data like subtitles, chapter markers, or other metadata.

The choice of video container is essential because it determines the compatibility and interoperability of the video file. Different video containers support different codecs, features, and compression methods, which can impact factors such as file size, quality, and playback capabilities.

## Common Video Container Formats
Some of the most widely used video container formats include:
1. **MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)**: A versatile and widely supported container that can store video encoded with various codecs, such as H.264, AVC, and HEVC, as well as audio in formats like AAC and MP3.
2. **AVI (Audio Video Interleave)**: A legacy container format developed by Microsoft, primarily used for storing video and audio data in a Windows-compatible manner.
3. **MKV (Matroska)**: An open-source, highly flexible container that can handle a wide range of video and audio codecs, as well as advanced features like chapter markers and multiple audio/subtitle tracks.
4. **WebM**: An open, royalty-free container format primarily associated with the VP8 and VP9 video codecs, designed for web-based video delivery.
5. **QuickTime (MOV)**: A container format developed by Apple, commonly used in professional video production and post-processing workflows.  

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The choice of video container often depends on the specific requirements of the video project, the target audience, and the playback platforms being supported.

## Importance of Video Container Selection
Selecting the appropriate video container is crucial for ensuring seamless playback and compatibility across different devices and media players. Factors such as the intended use case, target audience, and platform support should be carefully considered when choosing a video container format.

Incompatible or unsupported video containers can lead to playback issues, compatibility problems, and the need for additional transcoding or conversion steps. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of various video container formats is essential for content creators, video professionals, and developers working with digital video content.  

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At api.video, we understand the importance of video container compatibility and optimization. Our platform supports a wide range of popular video container formats, including MP4, MKV, and WebM, ensuring your video content can be easily uploaded, processed, and delivered to your audience seamlessly. Whether you're working with a specific container format or need guidance on the best options for your project, api.video provides the flexibility and tools to handle your video needs effectively.

Glossary-Clipping.svg

## What is video clipping?

Video clipping is the process of creating a smaller video from a longer video. Online, they're often taken from established media sources, community, and individually produced clips. Most clips are under fifteen minutes long. They first rose to prominence when broadband internet services became widely available starting in about 2005. 

Video clips may be taken from movies or shows, but people also people love creating their own clips and uploading them places like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo and more. Many clips nowadays are created by people filming original content with their phones. Clips are often also used these days to carry out citizen journalism. In the beginning, citizen created clips were carefully curated by news outlets. Today, people post their own journalism clips on social media networks without curation. 

Another popular use for video clips are vlogs. Video blogging - vlogging - became extremely popular starting in about 2005-2006 and it's still widely used today. Influencers earn money posting regular, interesting content or sometimes by posting ads for products they're paid to promote. 

Corporate America was a little slower to become interested in video, but today video marketing, corporate vlogs, and video e-learning are invaluable tools for companies everywhere. They're able to reach many more people than they could with just text. 

## Video clipping and api.video

api.video is an API that lets you create your own video platforms quickly and easily. We received a lot of requests for basic editing capabilities, and they're now available. You can now use our API to create clips from any video you like and then create copies of your clip.



## What is a chyron?

By definiton, a chyron is an electronically generated caption superimposed on a television or cinema screen.

In simple words, a chyron is the text you might see on the bottom of a video broadcast. The original purpose of a chyron is to provide context, and help viewers quickly identify the topic that is shown on the video.

The word itself originates from the company of the same name. The Chyron corporation pioneered the addition of text at the bottom of a video. Just as a "xerox" became a synonym of a photocopy, and how "googling" is a synonym searching online, a chyron refers to the text at the bottom of a video broadcast.

## When to use chyrons?

If the chyron’s definition is clear, let’s see how one can use chyrons to communicate important information directly to viewers. Here are some common examples where chyrons are used:

- **News broadcasts**: Show breaking news alerts, headlines, or critical updates
- **Sports events**: Show scores, player names, statistics, or similar information
- **Live events**: Display information about performers, event schedules
- **Interviews**: Show the names or professions of the participants
- **Weather updates**: You’ve guessed it - shows temperatures, weather conditions, storm warnings  

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And now, let’s check some advanced use cases:

- **Accessibility**: Provide information that complements audio content for viewers that are hard of hearing, or when audio quality is poor
- **Monetization**: Show sponsors, promote products, and enhance viewer engagement with some affiliate marketing or dynamic advertising that fits the contents of the broadcast
- **Legal and compliance**: Display legal information or disclaimers for content that requires it, for example ads about pharmaceuticals
- **Interactive content**: With the rise of interactive shows on popular streaming sites, chyrons enable providers to prompt viewers to take actions like clicking a button, or to engage with the content through comments and polls

## How to use chyrons with api.video?

With api.video, you have two options: use simple text-based chyrons, or use a canvas to draw over a live stream.

_Note that these features are not natively supported by our API, rather they are superimposed through a HTML canvas over the video or live stream._

You can play around with both options through these demos:

- [chyron.a.video](https://chyron.a.video/) enables you to stream your screen and your camera, while adding a chyron to the bottom of the screen. The chyron can be changed on the fly during the recording - it is being drawn on an HTML canvas that is being recorded. If you are using Chrome, this demo also showcases live captioning based on your voice input.
- [record.a.video](https://record.a.video/) works in the same way, however in this demo you can draw on the screen, just like on an interactive whiteboard.  

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Cloud video platform

What is a cloud video platform?

What is “the cloud?”

How does “the cloud” work in a cloud video platform?

What’s in a video platform?

Cloud video and api.video