The Internet provides users with many ways to access video files online. The traditional method is to download a video file as a user would download a normal document or image file. The user must wait for the download to finish, then open and view the video. However, streaming videos allows users to watch a video while it is being downloaded from the Internet.

Video streaming technology is useful for real-time and on-demand requests. A common use of streaming video is broadcasting news over the Internet. Some of the largest news networks even offer live news video streaming on their websites. Another common use for streaming video is to watch movie clips. Many movie studios offer previews or trailers of their upcoming feature films through streaming video clips. Also from the entertainment business, record companies use this technology to broadcast music videos for the public.

With the sudden appearance of portable webcams, one of the growing uses of video streaming is video conferencing. Computer chat programs often come with video conferencing features that allow users to see the person they are talking to. This feature not only allows Internet users to hear the voices of their friends or family, but also allows them to see each other in real time. Likewise, businessmen use this feature to conduct business meetings, conferences, or even corporate trainings over the Internet.

Video streaming is also used in the field of education. Live or pre-recorded lectures are available on many educational and university websites. This allows students to watch and listen to lectures over and over again.

There are many other uses for streaming videos. Some websites offer real-time views of major roads. This service is especially useful for motorists who want to avoid vehicular traffic.

In addition to all the advantages of video streaming, there are also limitations and disadvantages. For videos to be quickly delivered to a user’s desktop for viewing, two things must be considered: the size of the video and the Internet bandwidth available to the user. Video compression can often sacrifice video quality, and low bandwidth often results in choppy video playback. Another drawback of the availability of streaming videos is the increase in network or internet traffic.