If you’re new to adaptive streaming, you may wonder: what’s all the fuss about HTML5 video streaming?
Overall, HTML5 video streaming enables the manipulation of multimedia content using <audio> and <video> HTML tags. Using the <video> tag creates a native HTML5 video player and allows additional options for customizing and displaying video content.
That may seem technical and confusing, but luckily, live-streaming video is now more accessible than ever for professionals who aren’t quite tech-savvy.
With the support of the right video platform, broadcasters can successfully upload secure videos and deliver high-quality content via some JavaScript, CSS, straightforward code, and a solid understanding of the HTML5 <video> tag.
This article will cover HTML5 video streaming and its key applications. Then, we’ll briefly review HTML5 video players and cover three ways to embed your video content on a website. These methods include direct embedding via an HTML5 video tag, developing your player, and using an existing player.
To get started, let’s look at some background on the origins of HTML5 video streaming.
Table of Contents
What Is HTML5 Video Streaming and How Does It Work?
What Is an HTML5 Video Player?
Benefits of HTML5 Video Streaming
Challenges of HTML5 Video Streaming
HLS Protocol for HTML5 Video Streaming
How to Embed a Player for HTML5 Streaming
1. Embed a Video with HTML5
2. Develop Your HTML5 Player
3. Use an Existing HTML5 Player
How to Optimize an HTML5 Video Stream Tag
How to Add a Background Video to HTML5
Additional HTML5 Tags for Improved Streaming
FAQs
Conclusion
What Is HTML5 Video Streaming and How Does It Work?
Cideo steraming allows users to watch videos over the internet.
During the early 1990s, when the Internet was still in its infancy, the first web browsers only supported static HTML pages. These pages were simple text documents with hyperlinks that allowed users to navigate from one page to another.
Around 1994, the first images appeared on websites as the <img> HTML tag was introduced.
Then, in 1995, audio and HTML video tags were create d, which allowed web developers to embed multimedia content on their websites.
However, it wasn’t until 2010 that HTML5 video streaming became widely adopted. That’s because earlier versions of HTML didn’t support the HTML video tag, and browsers couldn’t play videos without a plugin like Adobe Flash Player or Microsoft Silverlight.
When HTML5 was released, it included a new <video> tag that allowed browsers to play videos without the need for any plugins natively. HTML5 also introduced several other features that made developing websites and web applications more accessible.
Some of the benefits of improved software technology include the following:
Reduced buffering
More functional video player
Something else you need to know is HTML5 multicast video streaming, a type of live streaming that uses the HTML5 <video> tag to send a single video stream to multiple viewers. With the help of a CDN, live streaming HTML5 video, you can stream your content to viewers worldwide.
There are three methods for online video streaming:
Proprietary format
Intermediate player
HTML5 video streaming
Let’s check them out.
1. Using a Proprietary Format
The first method of online video streaming was common in the early days of the internet but is pretty much obsolete now. Nevertheless, it’s essential to mention and review, as it’s a vital part of live streaming history.
With a proprietary format, video content would use a format for streaming videos exclusive to that site. That’s because, in the early days, when broadcasters first started sharing videos via the internet, most web browsers didn’t have any built-in video players.
Instead, websites would use a proprietary format, such as .mov, .rm, or wmv. Then, they would provide their video player and place the video on the web page itself.
Some videos use a dedicated player such as Apple QuickTime for .mov files. However, sharing videos was difficult in the early days of video streaming.
2. Using an Intermediate Player
Another popular method for live streaming video content is by using an intermediate player. One of the most popular intermediate players is YouTube.
YouTube came onto the scene in 2005 and has remained popular ever since. YouTube helped mainstream streaming video, and it’s an excellent example of a popular website that uses an intermediate player.
When users upload a video file to YouTube, viewers access the content through YouTube’s embedded player. Likewise, viewers can share the audio and video content via a YouTube code.
However, modern browsers now include embedded video players of their own. That means that it’s not always necessary for a website to provide the player, so the use of intermediate players is declining.
3. Using HTML5 Video Streaming
The most modern method of video streaming is HTML5 video streaming. It’s the most innovative approach to streaming video.
With HTML5 video streaming, the website hosting the content uses native HTTP to stream the media to viewers directly.
Content tags (e.g., HTML <video> tag) are part of the HTML code.
Thus, using the HTML <video> tag creates your browser’s native HTML5 video player. These tags guide the HTTP protocol on what to do with this content. For example, HTTP displays the text, and an audio player plays audio content. That’s how HTML5 video streaming works and how you can embed a video with HTML5 using native HTTP.
Also, HTML tags have various attributes, or parameters, which provide further detail on how to present the content. For example, with the <img> tag, you can specify the size of the image.
More recently, HTML5 has expanded the media capabilities of basic HTML.
For example, enhancements to the <img> tag and the new <video> tag provide content creators with more flexibility and ease in presenting media content. In addition, understanding different HTML video tags allows for more customization with your presentation.
This flexibility of HTML video tags allows broadcasters to deliver media without worrying about which browser a given visitor uses.
What Is an HTML5 Video Player? HTML5 video players have revolutionized the way we stream video.
HTML5 video players have revolutionized the way we stream video.
For years, Adobe’s Flash video player was the primary method of delivering video via the internet. However, Flash is now considered an outdated streaming protocol. Most modern browsers, such as Chrome, stopped supporting the Adobe Flash player at the end of 2022.
Part of why Adobe Flash player became obsolete is because it isn’t supported on mobile devices. With most people accessing the internet through mobile devices, this helped to contribute to the demise of Adobe Flash player. The most common video streaming technology is now HTML5 video players and HLS delivery streaming protocols.
HTML5 is a more modern streaming solution. It can be used to stream videos directly from a website. One of the biggest advantages of HTML5 is that it supports mobile streaming on all devices.
HTML5 video streaming provides a simpler way to use video on web pages. Before its publication as a markup language in 2014, videos could only play in a browser with plugins like Flash. By using HTML5, developers no longer worry about which browser or extension their visitors use, allowing for greater video access.
Additionally, HTML5 simplifies video delivery by providing support for various attributes, elements, and tags to assist with the structure of your webpage.
These support features include articles, sections, and multimedia tags that support adding video and audio formats to your content.
Benefits of HTML5 Video Streaming
With HTML5, web developers can now add video and audio to a web page without plugins. That has numerous benefits, including:
Reduced Development Time and Costs: Previously, different plugins had to be used for different browsers. That required more development time to ensure compatibility with popular browsers. All major browsers support HTML5, so development time is reduced.
Increased Mobile Support: One of the main benefits of using HTML5 is that it supports mobile devices. That wasn’t possible with Flash, so HTML5 provides better access to video streaming on all devices.
Fewer Resources: HTML5 doesn’t require additional plugins or software, unlike other video streaming solutions. That means it uses fewer resources, which benefits both users and developers.
Improved Accessibility: Using HTML5 video tags also provides better support for people with disabilities. For example, screen readers can now access video content previously hidden in Flash videos.
Simple to Add Apps/Tools/Links: Adding apps and links is much easier and quicker when using an HTML5 video player. That’s because you don’t have to worry about which browser your visitors are using.
Faster Rendering and Processing: HTML5 videos load faster than Flash videos since they don’t need to be downloaded first. That results in less waiting time for users and less strain on servers.
HTML5 video is so accessible most people don’t even realize they are using it. As a result, it has become the video player of choice.
Challenges Of HTML5 Video Streaming
While HTML5 streaming has numerous benefits for broadcasters and viewers alike, it’s not without its shortcomings.
For one, HTML5 needs a specific format and protocol to function. As mentioned earlier, one format that HTML-5 uses and has been gaining popularity is Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTPS, or MPEG-DASH.
Unfortunately, not all browsers and devices natively support MPEG-DASH. So, you may need a transcoder to convert your stream to other formats like HLS or RTMP.
Another challenge is that when live streaming with HTML5, you may require additional bandwidth and resources to ensure high-quality streams. This makes this type of streaming more costly compared to plug-in-based streaming.
HLS Protocol for HTML5 Video Streaming
In recent years, HLS has become a common protocol for streaming video over HTML5 players.
If you’re new to the term, HLS is an acronym for HTTP Live Streaming. HLS is a media streaming protocol that delivers visual and audio media to viewers online.
These technological advancements have been advantageous for both broadcasters and viewers. In particular, broadcasters can modify both HTML5 and HLS to their specifications. Additionally, these protocols are safer, more reliable, and faster than earlier technologies.
First launched by Apple in 2009, broadcasters often prefer HLS streaming for its broad support on multiple browsers and devices.
Other older protocols include:
RTMP stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol. It’s a proprietary protocol developed by Adobe that was commonly used for streaming audio and video data.
HDS is an acronym for HTTP Dynamic Streaming. It’s similar to HLS but was developed by Adobe as a part of the Flash platform.
MSS is an acronym for Microsoft Smooth Streaming. It’s a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft and was commonly used in Silverlight applications.
MPEG-Dash is a more recent protocol that’s based on ISO standardization.
While HLS is the most widely used streaming protocol, MPEG-Dash is gaining popularity due to its standardized format.
You can read more about HLS in general and HLS streaming with an HTML5 video player in our post on HLS streaming protocols.
How to Embed a Player for HTML5 Streaming
Now that you understand the history and purpose of HTML5 video players, we’ll dive into a few approaches to HTML5 streaming.
To begin, let’s discuss the three main ways to embed videos on your website:
Use the HTML5 <video> tag directly in your browser
Create your player
Choose a ready-made HTML5 player
Embed a Video with HTML5
1. Embed a Video with HTML5 You can use the HTML5 video tag to customize different aspects of your video stream.
When you’re setting up HTML5 video streaming on your website, you must declare the following:
A <video> tag
The URL of the video
Any stylistic requirements you might want to customize (for a more appealing video player than the standard player)
*Note: It’s important to note that the <video> tag is a simple piece of code you can add to your web pages.
The standard <video> tag provides the following functionality:
Specify the width and height of the player
Display or hide video controls, including play/pause, volume, full-screen toggle, and seek slider
Set a poster image to display while the video is downloading or not to play
Provide a set of videos in different HTML5 video formats so that each browser can play a format it supports
Include closed-caption subtitles or captions in multiple languages
Tell the browser whether to start downloading the video when the page loads or only when the user presses “Play.”
Control autoplay settings
Decide whether to play content once or in a loop.
Indicate if you’d like to play the video without sound (muted). For example, automated videos on Facebook display the mute option overlaid on the video.
*Note: We’d like to point out that although the HTML5 <video> tag is considered the most widely supported video player element, not every version of every browser supports it.
Suppose users visit your site using earlier versions than the following browsers. In that case, they won’t be able to watch any videos displayed using HTML5:
Chrome: Version 4.0
MicrosoftExplorer (predecessor to Edge): Version 9.0
Mozilla Firefox: Version 3.5
Safari: Version 4.0
Opera: Version 10.5
It’s also important to note that HTML5 video streaming requires technical knowledge and dedicated resources. Therefore, it’s best to opt for an existing HTML5 player if you lack the knowledge to manipulate HTML5 code, but we’ll discuss this option further in this post.
2. Develop Your HTML5 Player You can develop your own HTML5 player with the right training and team.
Another option for embedding video content on your website is via your HTML5 video player. However, building a custom HTML5 video player requires a combination of HTML and CSS coding. It also requires knowledge of the HTML5 Media API.
The player’s appearance is basic without specifying any code that styles the HTML5 video player. It also depends on the browser from which the video plays.
Providing a consistent interface for HTML5 video streaming on your site is also helpful for branding and visual presentation.
Again, it’s important to note that HTML5 video streaming is a reasonably technical option suitable for people with requisite coding knowledge. Otherwise, an existing HTML5 player built by a dedicated team through a live-streaming API is a better option if you lack the technical know-how.
3. Use an Existing HTML5 Player Dacast’s Video Player with white label features provides an out-of-the-box platform for HTML5 streaming video and user experience customization.
We highly recommend using an existing HTML5 player if you’re new to broadcasting.
As mentioned above, many HTML5 players already exist and can be easily customized by broadcasters to represent their brand without deep technical knowledge. Moreover, this allows users who don’t have the technical knowledge for HTML5 video streaming to broadcast their chosen video still.
Here are some viable video players available today:
VideoJS is a free, open-source HTML5 player that uses Javascript and CSS. More than 400,000 websites across the web use this particular player.
Some HTML5 players use VideoJS as their base and add more functionality to the primary player. An example is the Dacast all-device video player, which offers functionality to stream live video and a customizable player skin.
JW Player is a for-pay HTML5 player that supports 4K video and adaptive bitrate streaming.
Other solutions include Flow Player, jPlayer, and Mediaelement.js.
Native HTML5 video doesn’t support RTMP app streaming or HDS protocols. However, JW does support these two protocols. So, as mentioned above, if you plan to use a solely HTML5 video player, HLS is probably the best protocol for you.
We’d also like to point out that some existing HTML5 video players, including the one from Dacast, are built for low-latency streaming. Any video you stream with a Dacast player automatically uses low-latency streaming. So no matter your viewer’s internet connection, they will be able to watch your content.
How to Optimize an HTML5 Video Stream Tag
There are a few ways to get the most out of the HTML5 <video> tag.
The first thing to pay attention to is your format. Using standard formats allows users to play videos easily. MP4 (MPEG-4) is the most widely-used format. However, Ogg and WebM formats are becoming more widely known.
WebM is now supported by recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari on OS/X, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 and up (requires WebM MF components). With this development, multiple formats mean easier viewing.
A significant optimization hack in video delivery is to lower the lag time or latency. Today, video is the most popular form of content consumption. Users spend mere seconds waiting for videos to start playing.
Broadcasters will also want to optimize your control settings. Here’s a quick breakdown of a few common settings to pay attention to:
Physical size and resolution: Set maximum physical size to provide control over uploads and lower lag time. For example, using a 1280×720 frame..