STREAMING GLOSSARY
Definitions, examples and related terms for this part of your viewing setup.
TERMS & EXAMPLES
Hardware decoding uses dedicated or supported device acceleration to turn compressed media into pictures or sound. It can reduce general processor load for formats the hardware and application support. Compatibility still depends on the actual stream properties and software path, so enabling acceleration does not guarantee that every codec, profile or resolution can be decoded successfully.
Read more →Software decoding performs media decoding through general software processing rather than relying on a suitable dedicated media-decoding path. It can support formats unavailable in a device's hardware, but it may demand substantial processor resources. Whether it works comfortably depends on the stream's complexity, resolution and frame rate as well as the device and application.
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A playback buffer holds some media ahead of the point currently being shown. It gives the player material to continue presenting during short delivery variations. Buffer size or duration involves trade-offs, including startup time and distance behind a live event; it cannot compensate indefinitely for delivery slower than the programme's ongoing data requirements.
Read more →Prefetching obtains content or information before the user immediately needs it. A player may use this idea to prepare media, guide information or interface images, depending on its design. It can reduce some waiting when predictions are useful, but it consumes resources and cannot guarantee that a later request will remain valid or available.
Read more →A cache stores a copy of information for reuse so an application or system does not always need to obtain or calculate it again. Players can cache images, guide data or other resources. Different caches serve different purposes, and removing a cache may cause fresh downloads without altering the original account or the source content itself.
Read more →App data is information an application stores for its operation, which can include preferences, databases, saved accounts and other persistent state. The exact contents depend on the app and platform. Clearing it can return an application toward an initial setup state, making it substantially different from a simple restart or removal of temporary cached files.
Read more →Force stop is a platform operation that stops an application's running activity rather than only leaving its screen. It can help restart an app that is stuck or behaving unexpectedly. Its availability and exact effects depend on the operating system, and it should be distinguished from uninstalling the app or deleting its stored data.
Read more →A restart stops and starts a device or application again so it begins a new running session. It can clear temporary state or release resources, but it does not normally change a subscription's expiry, repair an unavailable media source or install an update automatically. Application restart and whole-device restart also have different scopes in troubleshooting.
Read more →A factory reset removes or resets substantial device settings and user data according to the manufacturer's implementation, returning the equipment toward its initial setup condition. It is a disruptive troubleshooting step rather than a routine restart. Account access, app installations and network configuration may need to be restored afterward, and the exact consequences depend on the device.
Read more →Background apps are applications or processes that remain active when they are not the main visible screen. They can perform useful work such as updates or synchronisation while also using network, memory or processing resources. Their effect on playback depends on the platform's resource management and actual workload rather than their mere presence in a list.
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